---
title: "Continuity and out-of-hours cover of care (continuité et permanence des soins) · Treats"
description: "Continuity of care is the duty of a vet to ensure follow-up for the animals entrusted to them, and out-of-hours cover is the duty to take part in the emergency duty rota (articles R242-48 and R242-61 of the French Rural Code)."
url: https://www.treats.vet/en/glossary/continuite-et-permanence-des-soins/
lang: en-GB
updated: 2026-11-08
---

[Glossary](https://www.treats.vet/en/glossary/)

# Continuity and out-of-hours cover of carecontinuité et permanence des soins

Continuity of care is the duty of a vet to ensure follow-up for the animals entrusted to them, and out-of-hours cover is the duty to take part in the emergency duty rota (articles R242-48 and R242-61 of the French Rural Code).

The code of professional conduct requires a vet to ensure continuity of care for the animals entrusted to them (article R242-48, paragraph IV). Continuity can be arranged under an agreement between self-employed vets.

Vets must take part in out-of-hours cover (article R242-61, headed “Service de garde”). The cover can be arranged under an agreement between vets, which must be lodged with the regional council of the [Ordre](https://www.treats.vet/en/glossary/ordre-des-veterinaires/).

## Sources

* [French Rural Code, article R242-48 (Légifrance)](https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/article%5Flc/LEGIARTI000030361105)
* [French Rural Code, article R242-61 (Légifrance)](https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/article%5Flc/LEGIARTI000030361036)

 Checked on 8 November 2026 · by [Amir Davies](https://www.treats.vet/en/about/amir-davies/)

## See also

* [Ordre des vétérinaires](https://www.treats.vet/en/glossary/ordre-des-veterinaires/) The Ordre des vétérinaires is the statutory body every practising vet in France must join; it keeps the register of vets and enforces professional ethics and independence (article L242-1 of the French Rural Code).
* [Veterinary code of professional conduct](https://www.treats.vet/en/glossary/code-de-deontologie-veterinaire/) The veterinary code of professional conduct is the set of professional rules laid down in articles R242-32 and following of the French Rural Code; it applies in particular to vets practising in France under article L241-1 of that code.
* [Veterinary premises categories](https://www.treats.vet/en/glossary/etablissement-de-soins-veterinaires/) French law reserves the titles practice, clinic, specialist referral centre and veterinary hospital for regulated veterinary premises that meet the standards of the order of 13 March 2015.