RCVS broadly welcomes CMA remedies but voices concern over certain recommendations

Commenting on the remedies, RCVS Senior Vice-President Linda Belton MRCVS (pictured) said: “Having worked extensively and collaboratively with the CMA over the past two years, we are glad that, in developing this final package of remedies for the sector, the CMA has listened to feedback from the College and others.

“This includes recognising the professionalism, compassion, and commitment to animal welfare shown by veterinary professionals, and the immense value of veterinary nurses and the need to protect their title.

“The CMA has also removed some of its earlier proposed remedies following concerns we raised, and addressed the need to balance reducing costs for consumers with ensuring that veterinary businesses can continue to thrive, whilst preserving the clinical autonomy of veterinary professionals – all for the benefit of maintaining animal health and welfare.

“We will continue to work with the CMA over the coming months on developing implementation plans for the remedies and how they are monitored and enforced on an ongoing basis.”

The CMA’s final report details a number of remedies for the veterinary services for household pets market which will be legally binding on veterinary businesses and aim to increase competition within the sector and reduce the costs of veterinary care for pet owners.

Measures that the CMA will now make legally binding orders for, and for which the RCVS will be responsible for monitoring compliance (funded by a new levy on businesses), include:

• Ensuring businesses have written policies in place to ensure vets are empowered to offer independent and impartial advice.
   
• Ensuring vet practices make it clear whether they are part of a group or an independent business.
   
• Capping written prescription fees at £21 (for the first medicine) and £12.50 (for each additional medicine).
   
• Ensuring practices follow a transparent, accessible, in-house complaints process and engage in mediation where disputes cannot be resolved.
   
• Ensuring practices provide a written estimate in advance for any treatment expected to cost £500 or more (including aftercare costs) – plus an itemised bill for all treatments/services. Emergencies are the only exception for written estimates.

Linda Belton added: “While we welcome many of the remedies that the CMA has proposed, including the enhanced role proposed for the RCVS, there remain some areas of concern, for example, around publishing the prices of anti-parasiticide medicines, focusing solely on cost rather than other important considerations such as suitability, the environment, and public health.

“We ourselves have been advocating legislative and governance reform for some years, but are also concerned by the CMA’s proposed changes to our governance structure, where there is limited evidence provided to support the recommendation. We will wait to read the full report before commenting further and will publish further updates as we continue to work with the CMA.”

A summary of the CMA’s recommendations can be found on the dedicated page for the market investigation.