Vet Prescription Fees Capped Under Rule Changes
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Vet prescription fees capped under rule changes
Image source: Getty Images
By Mitchell Labiak, Business reporter, and Jim Connolly, BBC News Investigations
Published 1 hour ago
Written prescription fees from vets will be capped at £21 as part of a raft of changes that practices will be legally required to bring in over the coming months.
Vets must also:
- Tell clients if cheaper medicine is available online.
- Write price estimates ahead of treatment.
- Publish price lists for services.
Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) Action
The official competition watchdog has brought these measures into force after finding prices had been rising at nearly twice the rate of inflation. Vets have up to 12 months to comply with the new rules.
Key Changes:
- Prescription Fee Cap: £21
- Price Transparency:
- Publish a "comprehensive" price list for standard services (consultations, procedures, cremation).
- Provide written estimates for treatments over £500, including aftercare costs.
- Ownership Disclosure: Make clear if part of a group or an independent business.
- Comparison Tools: Data will be shared with third-party comparison sites through the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons' "Find a Vet" service.
Views on the Changes
CMA panel chair Martin Coleman: "The changes... will help inform pet owners about prices."
Cate Titterton, independent vet service owner: "Unfortunately, those prices are very likely to have to go up." She believes larger groups and corporates are the clear winners.
British Veterinary Association President Dr Rob Williams: "We've been clear with the CMA... that it must ensure its remedies do not disproportionately impact smaller, independent practices."
Clive Di Giorgio shared his experience of being quoted thousands for cancer treatment his dog didn't need, highlighting the need for market transparency.