Cautious Welcome To Which? Report

Responding to the Which? consumer magazine report on veterinary fees (August issue), the British Veterinary Association welcomed the information gained by the survey and guidance on choosing a vet. The Association, however, would wish to have seen greater clarification of the factors contributing to the range of fees. BVA President David Catlow commented "The report gives an indication of the variety and choice of veterinary services available but doesn't make clear and emphasise enough in its cost comparisons the different levels of service, equipment and nursing involved in constructing that fee. We encourage animal owners to inform themselves of the factors that add value to the provision of high quality veterinary services when making their choice.” The findings of the Which? investigation mirror those of the annual fees survey conducted by the Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons, a division of the BVA. Both surveys show that competition is thriving in veterinary practice and consumers have a good choice available to them.

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