23/10/2025
Worth while reading. We really try to keep our med prices low, and services as optimal as possible, so a plethora of top class nurses and superb equipment - but this costs!
Online pharmacies are currently nearly all owned by the corporate vets. Unfortunately we do not have the economics of scale - you can buy things cheaper than we can! Unfortunately not all conditions can wait, so are not suitable for a script and delay.... But with even less on the shelves and higher wastage, this will make the disparity worse.
We will continue to try and provide the very best that we can, putting our patients first. We really do care about them.
Today the CMA has published it’s Provisional Decision from the on-going investigation into the veterinary sector in the UK.
This is big news and has been reported on every major outlet.
As usual, when vets and our fees are publicly discussed, there is a significant amount of commentary from people questioning our motives and our morals.
So let me say again, this investigation has been welcomed by our profession. There are questions to be asked about the growing corporate influence over us and concerns have been expressed for years.
The vast majority of veterinary professionals have absolutely no influence over the fees that are charged and are doing their very best every day to provide their patients with excellent care that is affordable to their owners.
Costs have risen in the vet sector, as they have everywhere, but standards have too and that is a very good thing.
For example, nowadays it is routine in most clinics that a pet under an anaesthetic is monitored by both a qualified veterinary nurse, and also equipment that measures a variety of parameters, which keeps them as safe as possible. Pain management is worlds away from where it used to be with multiple medications used in tandem to keep pets comfortable. Scans, x-rays and blood tests are now routine, meaning vets know exactly what they are dealing with when they operate or treat patients and advancements in specialist care mean we can treat more conditions with success than ever before.
You can opt out of these changes if you wish, there are still some clinics going the old ways with often lower fees, but when the difference is explained to most pet owners, they understand the value of what they are getting.
And the majority of my colleagues are choosing to practice in this more modern way as well, because they absolutely know how important it is.
That said, I am pleased about the scrutiny and if you have concerns about affordability of care for your animals, please speak to your local clinic and they will do their best to help you.
The CMA have also called for transparency over costs, with practices likely to be asked to publish fees on their websites and give detailed estimates with options. Which happens already in most clinics but formalising the process is no bad thing. They also want more clarity over costs of things like cremations and referrals to specialist care.
They also want the ownership of clinics to be made much clearer, so those under corporate control can be easily recognised as such by pet owners
What they aren’t calling for is for the corporate chains to divest themselves of any clinics, or of the many associated businesses they own. Which is a little disappointing as many pet owners have the illusion of choice, but the fees, and therefore the profits, still remain within the same business. Which does, it could easily be argued, go against the very concept of competition and an open market.
This is particularly relevant when it comes to sourcing prescription medications online. It is likely that all vets will now be obliged to write prescriptions for long-term medications and so people can buy them from an online pharmacy, but the majority of these are owned by the corporates.
Meaning independent vets will be actively sending clients to spend money at their rival’s businesses, with no option to be able to have the favour returned.
Overall, what the CMA is suggesting aren’t huge changes and much of it is being done already by good clinics and individuals. I am looking forward to their final proposals and then finally being left in peace for a little while!
If you would like to give your opinions to the CMA and make any other suggestions for them, the consultation is open again and will be until 12th November 2025, and you can do so here; https://connect.cma.gov.uk/vets-provisional-decision
You can read the summary of the Provisional Decision here;https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68ee3de1e7b6794c076bbe09/Summary.pdf
