Veterinary Services - Crisis or Crossroads?

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'I have seen cats and dogs in paperwork be referred to as RGU's - Revenue Generating Units''

~ Professor Noel Fitzpatrick (Super Vet)

It all began when Dr Linda Joyce-Jones tragically lost Rosa (pictured) in 2018. She strongly believed that everything surrounding Rosa's case was mishandled, so she began doing some digging into her veterinary journey. Her findings led her to refuse to take legal action against the vets as she found that it was more a case of the system being to blame, not the individual vets. She discovered that it is not the veterinary nurses, or even the practices themselves, that are to blame, but the giants that are swallowing them all whole - the corporates!

What is the corporate take over?

As we spend more on our cats, dogs and other precious beloved family members, the veterinary industry has become attractive targets for big corporations, and pet owners are seeing higher bills and declining care as a result. Veterinarians and their employees tend to have comparatively low salaries compared to human doctors and nurses. In addition, pet ownership has boomed in recent years, with pet owners willing to spend whatever it takes to keep their beloved companions healthy. To put into context how much we spend on our pets each year in the UK, the Office for National Statistics revealed there has been a 270% increase from 2005 to 2021. The corporates see these rising figures, and they want in. With profit solely on the minds of these big organisations, animal welfare, as well as the welfare of the people who went into the industry wanting to help animals, has dwindled significantly over the last few years. In fact, it has now been going on so long that we have an entire generation who no longer know the traditional, animal centric, veterinary practice that the older generations remember so fondly. In many areas across the UK now, corporate owned veterinary practices dominate, yet people tend not to notice because the practices keep their original name and even veterinary staff. People are no longer aware their vets are no longer free to advise on a course of treatment, closer external service (such as pet crematorium or laboratory), or the most cost-effective avenue for the patient. They have no idea their vets are working to maximise profit at the expense of their sick, injured or, tragically, dying animal.

It is not just the veterinary practices themselves they now pull the strings of, the corporates have now bought into out of hours services', often creating an expensive monopoly in most areas, pet crematoriums, laboratories, pet insurance...even the pet food itself!

To find your nearest independent veterinary practice, you can do so here simply by popping in your postcode.

Linda's campaign

Linda created a petition to hold an enquiry into the corporate takeover of the veterinary profession in Wales, and it has received support from the likes of Parliamentary members (MSs), rescue organisations, pet crematoriums, vets themselves, animal focused media people, and the RCVS themselves, and so many more. Linda is making a stand for owners everywhere. Owners who may not have heard about this campaign, but who will be suffering the effects of its target through pricing and standards for the animals in their care that they love dearly.

Linda has organised a meeting of persons within the sector to discuss the ongoing issues at Bangor University on April 4th at 19:00 BST (for a 730 start). Representatives from CatsMatter will be attending the event. The event will be live streamed on Microsoft Teams, and you are invited to join us on this link. You can submit your questions anonymously in advance via this Microsoft Form.

At a pivotal moment, where the veterinary services industry across the UK is attracting unprecedented attention from politicians, regulators and the media, this event seeks to explore the lay of the land by assembling a multidisciplinary panel to consider the salient questions the profession is now confronting. Discussions will draw on the (largely unique) experiences and challenges facing veterinary teams and pet owners in Wales, where debate has been further stoked by industrial action, branch closures, the CMA’s veterinary markets inquiry, and work by the Senedd Petitions Committee on corporate consolidation within the sector. The event will appeal to professionals, students and members of the public with an interest in animal welfare (incl. the care of seized animals and implications for their families), affordability, employment rights, competition, and regulation of the veterinary profession.

In Conclusion

The corporate takeover of vet practices represents a significant paradigm shift in the veterinary industry, where financial interests often supersede health considerations. While the rise in vet fees can be attributed in part to increasing operational costs, the underlying issue lies in the prioritization of profit over compassionate care.

As pet owners, it is crucial to be aware of these changing dynamics in the veterinary landscape and advocate for the preservation of quality, personalized care for our animal companions. Only by shedding light on the implications of corporate takeovers can we strive towards a future where the well-being of our beloved pets is truly valued above all else.

Remember, the health of our furry friends should always take precedence over profit margins and that is why we will not be quiet on this and will continue to support external campaigns and petitioners and will always use our platform wherever we can.