Veterinary prescription charges

UKTigerlily

Becsam wrote: »

:T Hi Tigerlily, Thank you so much for looking for a cheaper deal for us, you are very kind and a credit to this site. I cannot believe the difference in price, it just shows how shopping around can pay dividends.
Our dog Rusty sends you a great big sloppy kiss, along with our thanks.
Take Care, Becky.:j

Hope it's the right one, I was shocked, normally NC are the best! lolllll hope Rusty will be ok!

DaveW007

I'm now locked in a dispute with my vet. Since complaining about their high prescription charges they are now refusing to issue me with a prescription and will only sell me the medication themselves at a much higher price than I currently get from the internet.

Unfortunately the RCVS are now washing their hands of the issue and refer me to the OFT who in turn pass me back to the RCVS.

Does anybody know how I can get the medication (Felizamole) for my cat without a prescription?

Thanks

RacyRed

DaveW007 wrote: »

I'm now locked in a dispute with my vet. Since complaining about their high prescription charges they are now refusing to issue me with a prescription and will only sell me the medication themselves at a much higher price than I currently get from the internet.

Unfortunately the RCVS are now washing their hands of the issue and refer me to the OFT who in turn pass me back to the RCVS.

Does anybody know how I can get the medication (Felizamole) for my cat without a prescription?

Thanks

What are their grounds for refusing to provide you with a prescription? Did you take your pet for a consultation? Can vets refuse to provide a prescription unless there are specific medical grounds?

consumerdirect.gov.uk quotes the RCVS guidlines and says, among other things,

- to have on display in their surgeries the price of their top ten selling prescription-only veterinary medicines and a notice on their surgeries which, among other things, says:

‘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.

It seems pretty clear cut to me that as a consumer you have the right to choose?

Do you think you are being encouraged to change to another practice because your vet did not like your complaint?

Nomad25

Can you not go to another vet for the time being- either for a rpt script or the Felimazole? At least your cat can get the meds while you 'fight it' out.

orlao

DaveW007 wrote: »

I'm now locked in a dispute with my vet. Since complaining about their high prescription charges they are now refusing to issue me with a prescription and will only sell me the medication themselves at a much higher price than I currently get from the internet.

Unfortunately the RCVS are now washing their hands of the issue and refer me to the OFT who in turn pass me back to the RCVS.

Does anybody know how I can get the medication (Felizamole) for my cat without a prescription?

Thanks

As I understand the rule re prescriptions, a vet cannot refuse to supply a prescription for a med that they will supply themselves as long as they see the animal regularly.

A vet is still prescribing the felimazole whether they also supply it or you source it yourself however they do have a legal and moral duty to ensure your pet is monitored properly.The RVCS has said that owners that source their own drugs should not be treated any differently to an owner who buys their pets meds from the surgery i.e be made have more consultations, wait an unreasonable time for the script etc. Also that the charge for a prescription charge must be "reasonable"....how to define that is another matter, of course!

There is a named person who is monitoring this
Bob McDowall:
[EMAIL="bob.macdowall@oft.gsi.gov.uk"]bob.macdowall@oft.gsi.gov.uk[/EMAIL]
or call him on 020-7211-8574

Looks like it's the Office of Fair Trading.....so might be worth a call?

AFAIK, the RCVS don't deal with complaints about charges so that is why they are "brushing you off" and CD are only as good as the person you are talking to IME.

I agree with the OP who says it's time to change vets...but I would ask on the phone what their policy and charges are re prescriptions before you book an appointment, then you can avoid this situation occuring again.

orlao

MrsTine wrote: »

Her practise has also taken to charging £10 per prescription if it's not collected from them - this is because it DOES take more than 30 seconds to review the case file, check the details, verify the drug that is required and print out the piece of paper and then sign it. And ofcourse by signing it then the vet accepts responcibility that this IS the right medication to give for this animal... She also insists that the animal concerned is taken in for check ups every 3 months instead of 6 months which she might normally if the animal had the prescription from them - because usually if people scrimp on the medication they will be less likely to contact the vet if the pet isn't reacting or recovering like it should - if they have bought it from the vet they are quick to pick up the phone and complain and her view is that she'd rather loose a few customers than have people not call her if the pet has a bad reaction etc etc etc because they have bought it somewhere else - not saying al pet owners are like this but she's seen it happen enough that she has decided to change her policy because of it.

I think your friend *could* find herself in trouble with this policy......as I understand the RCVS and OFT guidelines, vets must not penalise clients who don't buy meds from them.....making them have extra consultations (unless there is no charge?) is a penalty!

On a personal note, I'm disgusted that a vet would assume that because I will not pay their prices if the same product is available elsewhere at a substantial discount that I'm an uncaring or irresponsible owner...IMHO, looking for the best (not cheapest) deal is sensible, nothing else.

DaveW007

My vet told me in a letter recently that their prices for the medication is high as they offer a 24 hour service which is taken into account!!

I pointed out that if I require a vet out of hours then I would expect to pay for it and not have it added to the price of medication just bump up their profits.

Unfortunately my vet doesn't like people complaining.

red_bertie

Your vet really does sound like and areshole!

simontheiceman

red_bertie wrote: »

Your vet really does sound like and areshole!

U shoudl chk yuor spellin or yuo may luk a bit foooolish....

BTW: DaveW007- Do not be brushed off by RCVS - make a written complaint, this is not about fees, this is about professional conduct.

The only reason they can have for brushing you off is that it is a legal issue, which requires you to use the British legal system (if you cant afford to do this then that is not an RCVS issue). I would push forward with OFT complaint as well and I would also take it to Trading Standards - a place which is much under-utilised. Cause much noise and trouble - that usually gets you what you want in the end. If it doesnt then you can at least be satisfied that you have caused a bit of trouble.

DaveW007

I'm running out of Felizamole and contacted my vet the other day stating that I require a prescription. I went to collect the prescription yesterday and they then said they can't issue it to me without seeing my cat. I told them I am quite prepared to bring a photograph of my cat in to show them but will not be bringing my cat in to see them in person as I don't want to have to pay for a consultation which isn't required. The receptionist went out the back and came back with the prescription for me which I had to pay £11.50 for. As a matter of interest the vet also had an order on the desk and Felizamole was an item being ordered at £13.24 per 100!!! My vet is selling the medication at £24.00 which is a profit of around 45%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!