Modern veterinary surgery practice?

[sako751sg]

Just wondering if this is common practice among surgeries these days.
Have had an issue with the pup for a wee while,so the missus took him down to the vets a week ago today.
Something wrong,along the lines of an infection that if untreated could end up with him wasting away,but one of two things that are treatable and would require a fecal sample to go for testing.
Next day the missus hands it in,and the next day I get a phone call from the surgery stating what the cost will be,along with a quite surprising question of would I like to pay it now?!
Actually hadn't my card to hand and said no,but will be down when they results come in to square up.
Fast forward to today and a vets letter in the post,us thinking that's fine,the results in and hopefully get to the bottom of things but no,the bill is in and needs paying for a "fecal analysis".
Had dealings with the local surgery for roughly 40 years through farming and the dogs and the change in them has been pretty off the scale.
From old school people who were never scared to attend any time of day or night and had the thing most lacking today,common sense,to people who are pretty much only interested in pets.
Never personally had any issues,often think the price is high but I know that comes with animals these days,but the mass pile on my surgery gets on the local social media pages with recommendations of other surgeries is incredible so I'm presuming it's not without substance.
Is the procedure for what's happened regarding my pups treatment a common theme or are they taking the proverbial?

 

[Tim.243]

Just wondering if this is common practice among surgeries these days.
Have had an issue with the pup for a wee while,so the missus took him down to the vets a week ago today.
Something wrong,along the lines of an infection that if untreated could end up with him wasting away,but one of two things that are treatable and would require a fecal sample to go for testing.
Next day the missus hands it in,and the next day I get a phone call from the surgery stating what the cost will be,along with a quite surprising question of would I like to pay it now?!
Actually hadn't my card to hand and said no,but will be down when they results come in to square up.
Fast forward to today and a vets letter in the post,us thinking that's fine,the results in and hopefully get to the bottom of things but no,the bill is in and needs paying for a "fecal analysis".
Had dealings with the local surgery for roughly 40 years through farming and the dogs and the change in them has been pretty off the scale.
From old school people who were never scared to attend any time of day or night and had the thing most lacking today,common sense,to people who are pretty much only interested in pets.
Never personally had any issues,often think the price is high but I know that comes with animals these days,but the mass pile on my surgery gets on the local social media pages with recommendations of other surgeries is incredible so I'm presuming it's not without substance.
Is the procedure for what's happened regarding my pups treatment a common theme or are they taking the proverbial?

Wish the pup well from Essex

 

[wildfowler.250]

Just wondering if this is common practice among surgeries these days.
Have had an issue with the pup for a wee while,so the missus took him down to the vets a week ago today.
Something wrong,along the lines of an infection that if untreated could end up with him wasting away,but one of two things that are treatable and would require a fecal sample to go for testing.
Next day the missus hands it in,and the next day I get a phone call from the surgery stating what the cost will be,along with a quite surprising question of would I like to pay it now?!
Actually hadn't my card to hand and said no,but will be down when they results come in to square up.
Fast forward to today and a vets letter in the post,us thinking that's fine,the results in and hopefully get to the bottom of things but no,the bill is in and needs paying for a "fecal analysis".
Had dealings with the local surgery for roughly 40 years through farming and the dogs and the change in them has been pretty off the scale.
From old school people who were never scared to attend any time of day or night and had the thing most lacking today,common sense,to people who are pretty much only interested in pets.
Never personally had any issues,often think the price is high but I know that comes with animals these days,but the mass pile on my surgery gets on the local social media pages with recommendations of other surgeries is incredible so I'm presuming it's not without substance.
Is the procedure for what's happened regarding my pups treatment a common theme or are they taking the proverbial?

In a nutshell, I think this comes from folk not paying their bills. Folk racking up a couple of hundred quid bills then vanishing. Not really worth getting debt collectors in as this costs money in itself.

I think it’s fair that any labwork get’s paid for before it’s sent away. As the lab will then run the tests and invoice the practice. So the practice is out of pocket unless the bill is paid by the client. It’s a risk having the client pay latter.

The difficulty is when theres a change in style. I.e. the practice has been run one way for years, settle account later. To now paying up front. Mind you, you can hardly book a restaurante now without leaving credit card details prior to confirming the booking. Imagine the outrage if vets did that.


Hope the dog is sorted first and most importantly!

 

[Buchan]

Like any business cash flow is vital to vets and fewer practices are running monthly accounts, other than those in farm work where it is a business to business model. Another aspect is that it is very hard to chase bad debt once an animal leaves the surgery. So I'm not surprised. I had to pay at reception to see a private doctor not long ago.

 

[Alex88]

I graduated 10 years ago and the profession has deteriorated horrendously in that time. Most practices are now owned by big corporate groups who make huge profits, and give us targets and financial goals which they deem more important than patient welfare and client satisfaction. Fortunately though it looks set to change drastically again over the next decade, this time I hope for the better. Lots of young vets are now setting up their own private practices, and are able to compete well with the corporates. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) are investigating the profession, having noticed that there's a real monopoly issue. And the first veterinary strike action is hitting the news this week.... Historic strike action begins at Valley Vets Hopefully light at the end of the tunnel for vets and clients alike!

 

[wildfowler.250]

I graduated 10 years ago and the profession has deteriorated horrendously in that time. Most practices are now owned by big corporate groups who make huge profits, and give us targets and financial goals which they deem more important than patient welfare and client satisfaction. Fortunately though it looks set to change drastically again over the next decade, this time I hope for the better. Lots of young vets are now setting up their own private practices, and are able to compete well with the corporates. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) are investigating the profession, having noticed that there's a real monopoly issue. And the first veterinary strike action is hitting the news this week.... Historic strike action begins at Valley Vets Hopefully light at the end of the tunnel for vets and clients alike!

I wouldn’t be thrilled being a new grad the way things are currently. Least with some experience you’ve some degree of job security with the way it’s going.

Frankly, I’ve worked out I can get more money training as a dental hygienist with 9-5 and no stress. Tempting

 

[GBR66]

We still have monthly accounts with our dog/cat vet and a different horse vet. No complaints with small animal practice - expensive but they have done well by us. Have a great horse vet for breeding operation but have had a couple of proper muppets on injuries and lameness who have made calls for expensive tests or to shoot them, when a second opinion from a more experienced vet has been largely "leave it a couple of days" or a view on an injury based on experience. However I would point out that for a profession so hard to qualify for, to train for and with long training, unsociable hours and a fair bit of risk (cattle/horses) it is remarkably badly paid, really badly paid compared to Dr's, Accountants and most Lawyers, probably only on a par with criminal barristers who also get paid far more poorly than I would expect.

 

[foxinmad]

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Just wondering if this is common practice among surgeries these days.
Have had an issue with the pup for a wee while,so the missus took him down to the vets a week ago today.
Something wrong,along the lines of an infection that if untreated could end up with him wasting away,but one of two things that are treatable and would require a fecal sample to go for testing.
Next day the missus hands it in,and the next day I get a phone call from the surgery stating what the cost will be,along with a quite surprising question of would I like to pay it now?!
Actually hadn't my card to hand and said no,but will be down when they results come in to square up.
Fast forward to today and a vets letter in the post,us thinking that's fine,the results in and hopefully get to the bottom of things but no,the bill is in and needs paying for a "fecal analysis".
Had dealings with the local surgery for roughly 40 years through farming and the dogs and the change in them has been pretty off the scale.
From old school people who were never scared to attend any time of day or night and had the thing most lacking today,common sense,to people who are pretty much only interested in pets.
Never personally had any issues,often think the price is high but I know that comes with animals these days,but the mass pile on my surgery gets on the local social media pages with recommendations of other surgeries is incredible so I'm presuming it's not without substance.
Is the procedure for what's happened regarding my pups treatment a common theme or are they taking the proverbial?

Been having the same issues as you for a few years now, I have been using the same practice over 30 years and it's all about getting you in and out asap.
Things might change soon tho.

 

[wildfowler.250]

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Been having the same issues as you for a few years now, I have been using the same practice over 30 years and it's all about getting you in and out asap.
Things might change soon tho.

Usually because the client before you has taken double the amount of time they should have and then you’re running behind for the rest of the morning

I reckon you’ve got about 5 mins to listen to what’s wrong, 5 mins to check the patient over and sort medication. And 5 mins to type it up,(which the client doesn’t see after you’ve left the room) = 15 min appointment. You could start to turn everyone away that turned up a few minutes late like at the dentist but it wouldn’t make you very popular.

 

[Liveonce]

70% up front at time of consultation at are vets balances once full cost, drugs etc determined.

 

[Klenchblaize]

I graduated 10 years ago and the profession has deteriorated horrendously in that time. Most practices are now owned by big corporate groups who make huge profits, and give us targets and financial goals which they deem more important than patient welfare and client satisfaction. Fortunately though it looks set to change drastically again over the next decade, this time I hope for the better. Lots of young vets are now setting up their own private practices, and are able to compete well with the corporates. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) are investigating the profession, having noticed that there's a real monopoly issue. And the first veterinary strike action is hitting the news this week.... Historic strike action begins at Valley Vets Hopefully light at the end of the tunnel for vets and clients alike!

This is exactly what I gleaned from a recent BBC Radio 4 investigation into the current state of veterinary practices in the UK.

K

 

[wildfowler.250]

This is exactly what I gleaned from a recent BBC Radio 4 investigation into the current state of veterinary practices in the UK.

K

Yes there’s a large degree of corporate ownership now. Folk always reminisce about how it used to be when “Jim” used to run the place. Forgetting that Jim was quite glad to sell to a corporate when retiring but that always gets overlooked.

 

[NullMac]

It is because the Private Equity bastards (I used to be one) are buying up small vets practices and rolling them into a bigger business. The easy way to improve the business is to put up prices, sell you insurance (what do you think their commission is?) and improve cash collection.

From our perspective it means they push treatments not really necessary; charge a hell of a lot more and you are paying before you get your results or your dog back.

I was at a younger vets practice for a while. He was passionate about small animal surgery. Guess what the cure for everything was? More money in surgery than a bottle of Inflacalm.

Choose your vet carefully.

 

[Buchan]

Usually because the client before you has taken double the amount of time they should have and then you’re running behind for the rest of the morning

I reckon you’ve got about 5 mins to listen to what’s wrong, 5 mins to check the patient over and sort medication. And 5 mins to type it up,(which the client doesn’t see after you’ve left the room) = 15 min appointment. You could start to turn everyone away that turned up a few minutes late like at the dentist but it wouldn’t make you very popular.

15 minutes? Luxury. In my day you had clients queuing down street every Saturday and Sunday and I had to lick table clean wi tongue

 

[Border]

Nightmare over here. Just had to put my dog down in march (14 1/2).
Corporate firms like Evidensia, Anicura etc have bought up most practices and charge the insurance companies through the nose. The latter of course recommend a £9000 cover just to be on the safe side.
There is a revolt going on atm with pet owners avoiding using the bigger firms except in emergencies......

 

[Norfolk Horn]

15 minutes? Luxury. In my day you had clients queuing down street every Saturday and Sunday and I had to lick table clean wi tongue

Don't forget living in the middle ofbthe Road in a bakebean tin and a hole in your boot.
Those were the good old days!!!
Lol

 

[Kjf]

I graduated 10 years ago and the profession has deteriorated horrendously in that time. Most practices are now owned by big corporate groups who make huge profits, and give us targets and financial goals which they deem more important than patient welfare and client satisfaction. Fortunately though it looks set to change drastically again over the next decade, this time I hope for the better. Lots of young vets are now setting up their own private practices, and are able to compete well with the corporates. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) are investigating the profession, having noticed that there's a real monopoly issue. And the first veterinary strike action is hitting the news this week.... Historic strike action begins at Valley Vets Hopefully light at the end of the tunnel for vets and clients alike!

And there it is folks . Straight fromm the horses mouth .

We are not all moaning tight gyets complaining about modern day vet practices

Thanks Alex

 

[The Grouse]

Yes there’s a large degree of corporate ownership now. Folk always reminisce about how it used to be when “Jim” used to run the place. Forgetting that Jim was quite glad to sell to a corporate when retiring but that always gets overlooked.

Exactly what my uncle "Jim" did with his practice when he'd had enough. Seriously large cheque.

 

[long_range_rob]

I graduated 10 years ago and the profession has deteriorated horrendously in that time. Most practices are now owned by big corporate groups who make huge profits, and give us targets and financial goals which they deem more important than patient welfare and client satisfaction. Fortunately though it looks set to change drastically again over the next decade, this time I hope for the better. Lots of young vets are now setting up their own private practices, and are able to compete well with the corporates. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) are investigating the profession, having noticed that there's a real monopoly issue. And the first veterinary strike action is hitting the news this week.... Historic strike action begins at Valley Vets Hopefully light at the end of the tunnel for vets and clients alike!

Alex88 is spot on. My village vet is owned by a conglomerate and is shocking. All about ramping up the bill rather than animal first. I moved to a husband and wife independent vet and never looked back.

I will never trust a practice where their first question is “Are you insured?”

 

[wildfowler.250]

Exactly what my uncle "Jim" did with his practice when he'd had enough. Seriously large cheque.

Couldn’t blame anyone for that either..

Alex88 is spot on. My village vet is owned by a conglomerate and is shocking. All about ramping up the bill rather than animal first. I moved to a husband and wife independent vet and never looked back.

I will never trust a practice where their first question is “Are you insured?”

Think the only time I ask that is if I’m referring onto a specialist elsewhere so it’s definitely not for my benefit. At some point you need to have that awkward costs discussion.


I have to say I’m possibly lucky in that I’ve nice clients and a nice area. A range in what folk want to do and spend from “do everything” to “lets keep it palliative or costs to a minimum” - which is totally fine. A lot of the vet bashing seems to be online based / elsewhere and not within the clinic.