Vets could begin charging for prescriptions this October

simontheiceman

I have not lost 1 iota of business to the online pharmacies - how? I price matched the drugs in question and then spread the remaining costs over the other fees e.g. the injection fees and consultation fees. What the CC wanted was for us to increase our service fees and to stop hiding profit in the drug prices - I have done this and have not lost out. I will be charging for prescriptions but I expect to write as many as I have done over the last 3 years (three and they were for a drug I dont stock - Viagra). I had a request today for a script and after 5mins of discussion the owner left with the drug in hand, far happier that she could have the price and the convenience.

Rosie_Bud

simontheiceman - that is commendable, I wish my vets would do the same. I have spent literally thousands of pounds at my vets over the 7 years I have had my dogs but still we pay through the nose for drugs. For example - Meloxidyl is about 3 times the price of internet pharmacy at my vets. I had a letter the other day that as of 1st October my vets will be charging £7.50 per prescription!!! I would love to keep buying my drugs from the vets but just cannot afford to!

Rosie Bud xx

cambspire

Hi

I have just received a letter from my vet to say that from the 1st Nov it will cost £9.50 incl vat to issue a prescription. Seems rater expensive to me!

I would be interested to find out what vets are charging around the country.

Thanks

Cambspire:mad:

orlao

brenda_p_a wrote: »

Thats up to him/her but they must charge everyone the same if they have a fee for just a prescription paper

ie they must also charge this fee to clients who purchase their medication from them

AFAIK they don't have to charge their clients if they buy directly from the surgery......the charge is for the time spent signing the preprinted form I drop into them and I suppose their professional skill.

However I do intend to ask them to waive the fee if I ask for a prescription at the time of a consultation!!!!

Tortieshell

cambspire wrote: »

Hi

I have just received a letter from my vet to say that from the 1st Nov it will cost £9.50 incl vat to issue a prescription. Seems rater expensive to me!

I would change vets, thats appauling :eek:

snowman2_2

Tortieshell wrote: »

I would change vets, thats appauling :eek:

I agree that it is a lot of money but why is it appalling? If it takes an extra 4 to 5 minutes to type out a prescription, print it and sign it, any vet charging £25 for a consultation, the rate charged is the same as the rate charged for the consultation. Sounds like a thought through charge. Saying that - we haven't decided whether we are going to charge anything yet. As a commercial decision, we have to decide whether we will lose business and money by charging for prescriptions or whether we should charge for our time.

cambspire

snowman2 wrote: »

I agree that it is a lot of money but why is it appalling? If it takes an extra 4 to 5 minutes to type out a prescription, print it and sign it, any vet charging £25 for a consultation, the rate charged is the same as the rate charged for the consultation. Sounds like a thought through charge. Saying that - we haven't decided whether we are going to charge anything yet. As a commercial decision, we have to decide whether we will lose business and money by charging for prescriptions or whether we should charge for our time.

Granted that takes time, but I take a pre-printed prescription into the surgery, that takes the vet a few seconds to sign.

All I am trying to do is gauge the average cost. To me, £9.50 cannot be justified.

simontheiceman

Its really simple guys - You all want cheaper drugs - I have no problems with this - I have price matched for the last 3 years and have had no problems - I have NOT reduced my bottom line though - how? I have increased service costs and these will continue to increase. This is after all what you are asking for - think about it. My dentist charges £39 for 10mins and a private doctor service close to me charges £45 for 10 mins and my lawyer charges £45 for 10 mins. I currently charge £24 for 10 mins. The competition comission commented that we charged the least for our professional time in the comparable professions and we should seek to look at these to bolster our incomes rather than from the drugs. I am absolutely happy to do this but are you happy to pay?? Rest assured we will all be playing catch-up in the coming times. I am looking forward to making a decent profit at some point (I actually earn less than some shift workers local to me now). Enjoy the increased costs, because if I am to be here with my building tomorrow, I am going to need them.
Remember also, that it is the supplier that is responsible for any problems with the drug, not the prescriber. If your pet has a reaction to a treatment, it is them who need to take action on your behalf, you'll get no help from your vet. If you think this wont happen, think again, I fill out about 1 SARRS form every month at least. If someone else supplies then they have to do it. Often I can get the drug companies to help with costs of treatment for reactions but I'll be stuffed if I'm going to do it if I am not the supplier of the drug - You will have to pay me and then use the pharmacist to try to get some money back from the drug company. The last serious reaction cost over £3000 to sort out and required a referral. I arranged direct payment to the specialists from the drug company. Buy from the internet and your on your own - good luck with that one.

orlao

Hi Simon

I started a poll about this sometime ago........some interesting answers:D




http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1030987

Middle_Sister

My vet gave me a written prescription for Advocat which I sent to an online company. I asked for a 3 month supply which they say they have despatched. However I have received an email saying they need another prescription if I need any more Advocat. Can that be right? Surely one prescription for one item should go on indefinitely.