09/10/2025
All independent practices like Roker Park Vets are being excluded from the competition and marketing authorities 'confidentiality ring' made up of advisors from the corporate veterinary groups. They are getting access to a 'provisional decision report' of the investigation into veterinary services and are therefore potentially able to manipulate the final decision to the advantage of corporate veterinary practice prior to its formal publication. If you think this is unfair feel free to sign this petition set up by a fellow vet working in independent practice: https://www.change.org/p/grant-access-to-independent-vets-to-the-cma-s-unredacted-pdr
Concerns have been raised over the Competition and Markets Authorityβs (CMA) decision to share an unredacted Provisional Decision Report with a βconfidentiality ringβ made up of external advisors to six large veterinary groups, as the investigation into veterinary services for household pets enters its final stages.
These six corporate groups β and their external advisors β have been granted access under strict safeguards. However, independent practices are notably excluded.
Throughout the CMA process, much of the focus has been on the impact of corporatisation. The investigation is examining whether consolidation in the sector is reducing competition, limiting transparency for pet owners, and contributing to higher costs for services and medicines.
While the stated purpose of releasing the report was to give the six corporates a fair opportunity to read, assess, and respond to the provisional findings, there is understandable concern that excluding independents creates an uneven playing field. Independent practices, which provided extensive data during the early phases, risk being left without the same insight or ability to respond meaningfully at this critical stage.
Reassurance is needed that this approach will not disadvantage independent practices, and a revision to the process may be required to ensure fairness and balance in the CMAβs final assessment.