Vet welcomes 'common sense' crackdown on fees

A vet has described measures intended to provide transparency around prices for veterinary care as "common sense".

New reforms from the UK's competition watchdog mean written veterinary prescription fees will be capped at £21 and practices will have to publish their service prices.

A new price comparison website will also be introduced so consumers can find the lowest prices, and the changes will start to come into force later this year.

James Buick, the co-owner of ACE Vets, said transparency up front will help practices and clients.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) recommended the changes after a UK-wide investigation found veterinary prices had been rising at nearly twice the rate of inflation.

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) said the measures are a positive step and "will help pet owners make more informed choices" but said vet practices had not been immune to rising prices.

Under the reforms, pet owners must be told they can have a written prescription which could save them money.

Prescription fees are currently uncapped, but will be capped at £21 for the first medicine and at £12.50 for any additional medicines under the reforms.

Vets will also have to reveal if they are part of a large group following concerns raised to the CMA that ownership can be unclear.

James Buick, co-owner of ACE Vets, an independent practice in North Down and East Belfast said he thinks the CMA's proposals are good and that they are "common sense".

He said there has always been a requirement that the prices of common procedures are freely accessible and that from a business point of view giving detailed estimates in advance is a good thing too.

"No one wants to have that difficult conversation with an owner where they think that an operation is going to be £200 and then after it's done you're given a bill for £600," Buick continued.

He said that transparency upfront is going to help practices and clients.

But he did explain that price lists can difficult for vets as nuances of treatments can be difficult to list on a website. However, he said pre-op estimates can help with this.

On the topic of reducing drug prices, Buick explained how this is more complicated.

He explained that online pharmacies can charge less for the same medicines because they are buying much more.

He made the comparison that if you went to buy a product from a shop, the shop would not be obligated to let the customer know they can buy the same thing for cheaper elsewhere.

Buick also described how some people do prefer to get medicines from their vet.

Felicity Houston has two dogs - a whippet called Tanzi and a collie called Meg.

She described how vet prices have risen, saying that they are "excruciatingly expensive".

Speaking on Talkback on Radio Ulster, Houston said she had taken Meg to a vet in the countryside recently and was "very struck" when the prices were "remarkably low".

She explained how she had not realised there could be differences in prices between companies and within practices owned by same company.

On the topic of looking around for the best price, Houston explained how owners are "not going to start shopping around when it's an emergency".

She described how Tanzi had taken ill on the 12th of July (which is a public holiday in Northern Ireland) and had to be taken to an emergency vet.

"By the time she had finished everything, we could have gone on holiday.

"And it still would have been cheaper," she said.

"In an emergency situation, you are stuck with these dreadful prices because you care about your pet," she continued.

• Vet practices must publish a "comprehensive" price list for standard services – including consultations, common procedures, and cremation options

• A written estimate must be provided in advance for any treatment expected to cost £500 or more, including aftercare costs, plus an itemised bill. Emergencies are the only exception to this

• Vet businesses must make clear whether they are part of a group or an independent business

• To help pet owners compare local practices, price and ownership information will be made available through the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons' "Find a Vet" service, which will share the data with third-party comparison sites.