Attendance With Dogs or Other Animals

At Beckett House Practice we aim to make sure that all patients can access their healthcare safely and comfortably. We understand that pets, including dogs, can be a source of comfort. However, to protect the health and safety of everyone at the practice, we have the following guidance about dogs and other animals on our premises.

Assistance Dogs

We welcome trained assistance dogs that support people with a disability, (for example, guide dogs or hearing dogs). If you attend with an assistance dog, please let us know when you book your appointment so we can help make your visit as smooth as possible.

Under the Equality Act 2010, an assistance dog is generally defined as:

• A dog trained to guide a blind person
• A dog trained to assist a deaf person
• A dog trained by a prescribed charity to assist a disabled person whose disability affects mobility, coordination, dexterity, or ability to carry out everyday tasks, such as epilepsy
• A dog of a prescribed category trained to assist a disabled person with another qualifying disability

Emotional Support Animals and Pets

Dogs and other animals that provide emotional support, companionship, or comfort are not usually permitted inside the practice.  Emotional support animals are not legally recognised in the UK as assistance dogs and do not automatically have access to healthcare environments.

Please note that ESA certificates or ID cards issued by private organisations do not have legal status in the UK and do not give pets automatic access to healthcare premises.

Why We Have This Rule

We take safety and infection control very seriously. Allowing untrained animals into clinical areas could:

• pose a safety risk if an animal behaves unpredictably
• affect other patients or staff with allergies or phobias
• impact our strict infection control and cleanliness standards

These measures help us to keep our practice environment safe and welcoming for all patients and visitors.

What You Can Do

If you need support to attend your appointment, please speak to our team. We can discuss options such as:

• a friend, family member, or carer accompanying you
• someone waiting with your dog outside the building
• telephone or video appointments where clinically suitable

We are happy to work with you to make reasonable arrangements.

If you have any questions about this guidance or would like further information, please contact our Practice Manager.