A family-run vet practice in Knaresborough has welcomed new rules aimed at making pet care costs clearer for owners.
Your Family Vets has backed changes announced by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), including a £21 cap on the fee for a first written prescription.
The reforms follow an investigation into the veterinary sector and will also require practices to publish price lists and make their ownership clear.
Dr Philip Simon, owner and lead veterinary surgeon at Your Family Vets, said the practice has operated an open pricing policy since opening in November 2024.
Dr Philip said:
“As an independent, family-run vet practice, we’ve been running an open price policy since we opened in November 2024 and has allowed owners to make informed decisions when they have to provide care for their pet.
“Once the announcement came out in March this year that prescriptions would be fixed at £21 per prescription, we immediately fixed our price at £20. It means pet owners know they are not getting ripped off.”
The cap will apply to the first medicine prescribed during a consultation, with fees for written prescriptions for additional medicines capped at £12.50 each.
Larger veterinary businesses will have six months to introduce the caps after the CMA order takes effect, while smaller businesses will have 12 months.
Other changes include written estimates for treatment expected to cost £500 or more, including aftercare, and clearer information to help owners compare practices.
Dr Philip added:
“Our advice has always been use independently run practices and to shop around. Independent vets aren’t under pressure from any corporate owners who just want to see as big a profit as possible.
“With regard to the provision of a written estimate for treatments in excess of £500, although this will help owners see where the costs are, not all standards of care can be easily conveyed in a price list.
“For us, as we’re not part of a larger group, means we can focus on what matters most - honest, compassionate care that always puts pets first.
“To help pet owners further we also have in place our Ultimate Wellness Plan, which includes unlimited vet and nurse consultations, helping to spread the cost of care throughout the year.”
For further information, visit https://yfvets.co.uk/ or call 01423 900770.
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