GP Vets Embrace Greater Transparency For Referral Estimates Post CMA Remedies Announcement
3 weeks ago 
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In the wake of CMA remedies announced in March, some would say there has been little action to speak of.
However, while we continue to wait for more details of the creation of a website, funded by a levy on veterinary businesses, to help owners make more informed decisions when their pet is being referred, it appears that many vets are already embracing the recommendations.
Existing platform rapidreferrals.co.uk has provided hundreds of estimates from independent practices, as well as all the major corporate groups, since it’s launch at the end of 2025.
In the last few months, traffic has soared to the website from GP vets seeking to obtain numerous written estimates to present to an owner prior to referral. The platforms single form mechanism enables pets to be referred to multiple clinics, simultaneously, radically reducing administration burden in practice, while providing transparency and greater choice for pet owners. With over 500 referral practices already on its database, it is clear that the profession is keen to move forward of its own volition.
Since launching as a pilot at the end of last year, Rapid Referrals has facilitated hundreds of referrals, giving vets back valuable clinical time to focus on patient care. “It’s a godsend. Rapid Referrals saves us so much time and gives owners a genuine choice in where to take their pet” comments Clevedale Veterinary Practice.
Created by Emergency and Critical Care Vet Tom Towey BVMS CertAVP(ECC) MRCVS, the platform is straight forward, free to use and winning the hearts of first opinion and referral clinicians alike. Animal Eye Care states “It is simple and easy to use. I now receive referrals from areas and practices I’ve never reached before”.
The question of whether the veterinary profession would adopt a comparison style website, appears to have been positively answered. This does however now pose a new question, if a platform already exists to meet the needs set out in the CMA remedies, why should the profession be paying for (and ultimately passing the cost onto clients) another one to be created?
1 week ago