Competitions & Market Authority Review: Veterinary associations’ Guidance to support veterinary practices

3 May 2024

Following its initial review of the veterinary services market for pets in the UK, the Competitions & Market Authority (CMA) raised some provisional concerns. In considering these concerns, BSAVA along with BVA, SPVS and VMG collaborated to discuss how they might be addressed.

As result of this collaboration, the veterinary associations produced guidance covering a range of potential measures intended to support veterinary practices in providing greater client choice, improving transparency around fees and providing readily accessible information about practice ownership. Collectively, these steps should also contribute to good animal welfare through improved client choice, as well as supporting shared responsibility for the delivery of contextualised care.

The six key measures are:

  • Invite and encourage open and honest conversations about fees at an early stage.
  • Display a price list, in a variety of formats, for the most frequently offered services.
  • Include clear information about payment options available.
  • Normalise the principle of contextualised care in practice culture.
  • Proactively offer a prescription, where clinically appropriate, and discuss dispensing options.
  • Provide information about the ownership of the practice, as well as any associated services.

A summary of the Guidance and also, the Guidance in full is available to the whole profession and can be accessed here.

Further information

Previous information on BSAVA’s activity relating to the CMA consultation in 2024 and also, assets BSAVA has produced to support the profession are available here.

This also includes information on the CMA review and the joint submission by veterinary associations to the CMA’s Review in September 2023.

Also included are, BSAVA resources produced to support veterinary staff in practice explain veterinary costs, manage cases on a budget and help clients manage the cost of veterinary care for their pet. Access background information and relevant resources via the following link https://bsava.com/resources/resources-for-practice/other-resources/.

For quick access to the BSAVA explainer on Veterinary Costs Access the PDF here. and for assets intended to manage Veterinary medicine on a budget Access the PDF here.