Vet practice refusing to issue written prescription for controlled drug for longer than one month

GustyGardenGalaxy

I have a dog who has suffered from Epilepsy for a few years. It's under control because he takes the controlled drug Epiphen daily.

At this point I'll note that this practice was relatively recently incorporated into a group owned by Private Equity. This group has been gobbling up vets lately, not only in my area. Prices have gone up as a result.

I've found that I can obtain the Epiphen that my dog requires at a THIRD of the cost that my vet charges (I can get 1000 tablets online from a perfectly reputable UK supplier at a cost to me of about £200. If I was to continue to buy the tablets from my vets the cost for 1000 would be over £600). The company I would be buying them from is perfectly happy to sell 1000 at a time, saying that it's often done and they only need a valid written prescription (plus payment of course).

However, my practice won't let me have a written prescription for 1000 of the tablets, citing 'company guidance' that they can't issue more than one month's supply at a time. Note that they see my dog once every six months for blood tests.

BUT, if you look at the RCVS page here:

https://www.rcvs.org.uk/faqs/what-is-the-maximum-amount-of-a-controlled-drugs-that-can-be/

You will see that it specifically uses Epilepsy as an example and states: "If more than 28 days’ worth of treatment is prescribed, it must be ensured that the owner is competent to use the medicine safely."

So I am reading my vet's response as saying that they think I'm incompetent, even though I've been with them for 15 years and they know me very well and how I am a very responsible and caring owner.

I'm absolutely appalled at this.

Can anyone think of a way around this problem please? Do other vets do this? Or maybe somebody has some general observations on this matter?

tacpot12

You could make a formal complaint to the practice, citing the RCVS advice to practitioners. You might ask if there is a period, such as three months that they might be prepared to agree. I would also ask them to supply the evidence that they need to see the animal or review the prescription monthly. 

Ultimately, this is most likely to about money, and not the safety of your pet, however much they protest otherwise. Therefore, you have to take your money elsewhere.  

MatyMoo

I would look for an independent vet in your area (possibly a difficult task 😣) and see if you move to them is the drug any cheaper or would they give you a prescription for 1000 tablets.

My dog has a thyroid issue and his medication has gone up £5 in 3 months and consultation fees have risen £10 in a year so I am looking to move practices too.

elsien

How much does your vet charge for a prescription? It could still be cheaper to buy online a month at a time if the saving is as great as you say. 

GustyGardenGalaxy

Thanks to everyone who replied, I'll look into the suggestions.

@elsien - prescription fee is about £13 (on top of the price of the meds). This in itself seems very expensive.

sheramber

My vet charged £17.

elsien

GustyGardenGalaxy said:

Thanks to everyone who replied, I'll look into the suggestions.

@elsien - prescription fee is about £13 (on top of the price of the meds). This in itself seems very expensive.

Still less than £80 for a £400 saving though over 6 months, while you try to look at other options

Undervalued

GustyGardenGalaxy said:

Thanks to everyone who replied, I'll look into the suggestions.

@elsien - prescription fee is about £13 (on top of the price of the meds). This in itself seems very expensive.

Relative to what?

Most professional practices will charge at least £200 an hour and in many cases far more.

So, even at "only " £200 your £13 buys four minutes.

Naomim

Undervalued said:

GustyGardenGalaxy said:

Thanks to everyone who replied, I'll look into the suggestions.

@elsien - prescription fee is about £13 (on top of the price of the meds). This in itself seems very expensive.

Relative to what?

Most professional practices will charge at least £200 an hour and in many cases far more.

So, even at "only " £200 your £13 buys four minutes.

The prescription fee is just for the vet to issue the paper prescription, not to see the vet for a consultation. 

I used to get my dogs meds from petdrugsonline at a fraction of the cost of buying them from the vet. My pet insurance also covered the cost of the medication too but I understand having to pay £13 a month just for the paper it's written on is a bit much. 

Hopefully they could possibly provide 3 months worth at least or you may need to look for a new vets. 

Undervalued

Naomim said:

Undervalued said:

GustyGardenGalaxy said:

Thanks to everyone who replied, I'll look into the suggestions.

@elsien - prescription fee is about £13 (on top of the price of the meds). This in itself seems very expensive.

Relative to what?

Most professional practices will charge at least £200 an hour and in many cases far more.

So, even at "only " £200 your £13 buys four minutes.

The prescription fee is just for the vet to issue the paper prescription, not to see the vet for a consultation. 

I used to get my dogs meds from petdrugsonline at a fraction of the cost of buying them from the vet. My pet insurance also covered the cost of the medication too but I understand having to pay £13 a month just for the paper it's written on is a bit much. 

Hopefully they could possibly provide 3 months worth at least or you may need to look for a new vets. 

Yes, but in addition to the admin involved the vet takes on a legal liability for prescribing controlled drugs. They may need to review the notes and on occasions consider any new advice that has been issued about the use of that drug. 

If they reduced the charge to, say, £5 they would still need to earn the remaining £8 in some other way.

Katiehound

This is a slight diversion but a friend pointed out that the online pharmacy they use for wormers now states that you can only buy a year's worth.
I'm wondering if some new rules regarding animal drugs have come into force fairly recently

I would have thought 3months would have been a reasonable length of time for your epilepsy scrip.

Sometimes there is not an option to switch vets. Recently one of the vets in town said that they were not taking on any new patients. There were mutterings about another local practice , how that charges had shot up & I suspect people were voting with their feet.