With the Competition and Marketing Authority’s report being released and widely debated we felt we should discuss the findings and how they impact us.
The report is so far only their initial findings, with consultation and discussion now open again until a final Order is published.
It is suggested that their final report could include requirements to:
- provide a price list for specific services and treatments and certain other information on websites and in your practices
We already provide price lists for many of our common services and procedures which can be found here:
We will obviously be happy to add the cost of any other services that the CMA indicates they would like to see included.
- provide itemised bills for treatments and services
Itemised bills are already available, either as a printed copy or provided via email.
- provide a written estimate for treatments that could reasonably be expected to cost more than £500
We are happy to provide a written estimate upon request for any procedure, no matter the expected cost. We will happily comply if it is suggested one is provided for all estimates above a certain value.
- inform pet owners that they can get written prescriptions and that medicines may be cheaper online
We already inform clients that they can request written prescriptions both in our initial welcome information and on our website, and are happy to provide them.
Written prescriptions may not be appropriate for medications required urgently such as pain relief for an acute condition or for those required in the hospital.
- cap the fee for providing a written prescription
As with all legal documents, written prescriptions take our vet’s time and knowledge to complete and so it is appropriate that there is a charge for them. Obviously if a price cap is decided upon we will abide by that.
- provide information to the RCVS (for example pricing information) to go on their Find a Vet page
We will comply with all requests for information from the RCVS (our regulator).
- if you have more than one practice, making it clear that your practices are owned by a group
We are very proud of our independent status and may occasionally remind our clients of that fact! We are not part of a larger corporate group. Although we have strong working relationships with many of the local referral practices we are independent of them all and our vets are free to refer to whichever referral practice works best for that patient and client.
- have a complaint process that meets certain specified criteria
We do have a complaints procedure in place already, provided to all clients when they join the practice and available on our website. If any different criteria are suggested we will of course implement them.
- confirming to the RCVS every year that you are doing these things
We will follow all recommendations and procedures suggested by the RCVS and CMA.
At Towcester Vets we are proud of providing excellent veterinary care for reasonable prices.
We are always happy to discuss treatment options, their associated costs and what is feasible for every family.
Our certificate holding surgeons in both Surgery and Medicine means that we are able to provide more advanced procedures without needing to refer all patients to large referral hospitals.
We feel it is so important that cost effective options are available to clients that we are also willing to offer these services to clients referred from other practices.
If you have any questions regarding any of the CMA findings please let us know.
