Questions and Answers

Q; Am I allowed to request  a second opinion?

A :Yes. Veterinary surgeons should facilitate a client’s request for a referral or second opinion.Veterinary surgeons should not and can not be obstructive to this process

Royal College Guidelines https://www.rcvs.org.uk/setting-standards/advice-and-guidance/code-of-professional-conduct-for-veterinary-surgeons/supporting-guidance/referrals-and-second-opinions/

Q;It is possible for a farmer  to have more than one veterinary surgeon  attending to their enterprise .

A : Yes .This is called mutual client status https://www.rcvs.org.uk/setting-standards/advice-and-guidance/code-of-professional-conduct-for-veterinary-surgeons/supporting-guidance/communication-between-professional-colleagues/

Q; What are the Fair Trading Requirements

A : The Fair Trading Requirementshttps://www.rcvs.org.uk/setting-standards/advice-and-guidance/code-of-professional-conduct-for-veterinary-surgeons/supporting-guidance/fair-trading-requirements/ are an agreement between the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and the Office for Fair Trading , as an alternative to legislation under the Fair Trading Act 1973. This agreement is to ensure that clients have access to sufficient information to be able to decide where to obtain veterinary prescriptions and medicines. Please see the Government OFT website for further information in relation to which organisations now share former OFT responsibilities.

10.2  Veterinary surgeons must:

  1. ensure clients are able to obtain prescriptions, as appropriate. (A veterinary surgeon may prescribe a medicine of category Prescription Only Medicine, Veterinarian (POM-V), only following a clinical assessment of an animal under his or her care; a prescription may not be appropriate if the animal is an in-patient or immediate treatment is necessary);
  2. subject to any legal restrictions, ensure there is adequate provision of information on medicine prices;
  3. provide the price of any relevant veterinary medicinal product stocked or sold, to clients, or other legitimate enquirers, making reasonable requests;
  4. if requested, inform clients of the price of any medicine to be prescribed or dispensed;
  5. where possible and relevant, inform clients of the frequency of, and charges for, further examinations of animals requiring repeat prescriptions;
  6. provide clients with an invoice that distinguishes the price of relevant veterinary medicinal products from other charges and, where practicable, provide clients with an invoice that distinguishes the price of individual relevant veterinary medicinal products;
  7. advise clients, by means of a large and prominently displayed sign, or signs, (in the waiting room or other appropriate area), with reference to the following:
    “Prescriptions are available from this practice.
    You may obtain relevant veterinary medicinal products from your veterinary surgeon OR ask for a prescription and obtain these medicines from another veterinary surgeon or a pharmacy.
    Your veterinary surgeon may prescribe relevant veterinary medicinal products only following a clinical assessment of an animal under his or her care.
    A prescription may not be appropriate if your animal is an in-patient or immediate treatment is necessary.
    You will be informed, on request, of the price of any medicine that may be prescribed for your animal.
    The general policy of this practice is to re-assess an animal requiring repeat prescriptions for/supplies of relevant veterinary medicinal products every XX months, but this may vary with individual circumstances. The standard charge for a re-examination is £XX.
    Further information on the prices of medicines is available on request.”
  8. provide new clients with a written version of the information set out in the sign, or signs, referred to in paragraph 10.2(g), which may be set out in a practice leaflet or client letter;
  9. on a continuing basis, take reasonable steps to ensure that all clients are provided with a written version of the information set out in the sign, or signs, referred to in paragraph 10.2(g), which may be set out in a practice leaflet or client letter.

10.3  A reasonable charge may be made for written prescriptions; such prescriptions for POM-V medicines may be issued only for animals under the care of the prescribing veterinary surgeon and following his or her clinical assessment of the animals.

10.4  A veterinary surgeon must not discriminate between clients who are supplied with a prescription and those who are not, in relation to fees charged for other goods or services.

10.5  A veterinary surgeon should not prevent a client from using the medicines retailer of their choice. Written prescriptions should not contain any specific recommendations of medicines retailers. If specific recommendations are given to clients by other means, however, veterinary surgeons should be able to justify their recommendations and where the veterinary surgeon or their employer has a financial or commercial interest in the medicines retailer, this should be drawn to clients’ attention.

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