This updated guidance highlights the precautions that should be taken when dogs are brought into various health care settings and provides clear guidance on all reasonable safeguards that should be put in place to protect patients or residents, visitors and staff. It covers the role of both the dog and the owner/handler and includes information that all organisations should take into account before allowing a dog to access their premises. This includes staff with assistance dogs as well as patients, visitors, and people and organisations who have contact or who work with assistance dogs or therapy dogs. 

This publication is online only and not available in hard copy. 

You can download all electronic publications from the RCN free of charge.

Published by the Royal College of Nursing, 20 Cavendish Square, London, W1G 0RN.

© 2016 Royal College of Nursing. This publication in hard copy format may not be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise disposed of by way of trade in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published, without the prior consent of the publishers.

For permission to reproduce RCN copyrighted text, please complete our copyright request form.