Vets Market Investigation: CMA updates on 바카라 사이트˜behind the scenes바카라 사이트™ progress
The CMA updates on information gathering and announces the appointment of a new advisory panel made up of 2 veterinary nurses and 4 veterinary surgeons.
iStock
In May 2024, the CMA confirmed its decision to launch a market investigation into veterinary services for household pets in the UK and published tips to help pet owners better navigate vet services.
There are 16 million pet owners in the UK and the unprecedented response 바카라 사이트“ from the public and veterinary professionals 바카라 사이트“ showed the strength of feeling on this issue. With this in mind, the CMA is updating on the work going on behind the scenes to deepen the Inquiry Group바카라 사이트™s understanding of the issues. The Group, made up of independent experts and chaired by Martin Coleman, has been carrying out the investigation, supported and advised by CMA staff.
In July, the CMA published an issues statement which set out the scope of the investigation and the areas being explored 바카라 사이트“ including the information pet owners receive when deciding on treatment options or making purchases, competition between vet practices, the profitability of different types of vet practices, and the regulatory framework which underpins the sector.
The CMA has used and will continue to use its formal powers to gather information, examine concerns in more depth and be in a position to shape any remedies, if needed, to address them.
The Inquiry Group has so far conducted:
- Site visits: Over the summer members of the Inquiry Group and the case team have visited 20 different sites to talk to veterinary professionals to understand their work. These 바카라 사이트˜behind the scenes바카라 사이트™ visits happened across the UK 바카라 사이트“ in Belfast, Edinburgh, Swansea, and various locations across England 바카라 사이트“ and included visits to 바카라 사이트˜first opinion바카라 사이트™ local vet practices, veterinary hospitals, referral centres and practices that provide out-of-hours care. The team visited sites owned by larger corporate groups and several independently owned veterinary businesses, where they spoke to a range of veterinary professionals and observed several treatments and procedures first hand 바카라 사이트“ including consultations, surgical procedures, and animal dentistry.
- Roundtables: The CMA has held roundtable discussions with veterinary professionals at various stages of their careers, and representatives from animal charities. In-person roundtables were held in Edinburgh, Manchester, Swansea, and 4 virtual roundtables, to capture views on a variety of topics including the challenges faced by vets, how the sector has developed over the last 10 years, interactions with pet owners as well as costs and pricing. Roundtables with consumer groups will be held shortly.
- Teach-ins: Various organisations in the veterinary sector have presented their views to the CMA at 바카라 사이트˜teach-in바카라 사이트™ sessions and shared how the veterinary market works, their concerns about the investigation and how regulation is working. Participants included the large corporate vet groups, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, the British Veterinary Association, and the British Veterinary Nursing Association.
The CMA has also used its formal information gathering powers to require vets and vet businesses to provide large amounts of information about the way their businesses operate. This information is being analysed and will be an important part of the evidence relied on in the investigation.
Today, the CMA is also announcing the appointment of its veterinary advisory panel whose purpose is to provide the Inquiry Group with clinical and practical insight and analysis on an ad hoc basis throughout the course of the investigation. It is comprised of two veterinary nurses and four veterinary surgeons.
The advisory panel바카라 사이트™s insight will help ensure the Group is fully informed on day-to-day matters when it comes to make its decisions, including but not limited to:
- Operation of veterinary practices 바카라 사이트“ including roles and relationships between veterinary professionals, other staff, and other related organisations
- Interaction with pet owners - including how owners바카라 사이트™ decisions might be informed in different treatment/service situations, communicating recommendations and potential costs, and how those in different professional roles within a vet practice may engage with customers
- Clinical practice 바카라 사이트“ such as possible treatment options for defined conditions or illnesses of household pets
- Regulation 바카라 사이트“ including the operation and application of regulations and regulatory bodies
Martin Coleman, Chair of the Inquiry Group said:
We know our investigation really matters to pet owners who are worried about costs and vet professionals who want to provide good care, which is why we바카라 사이트™re updating on how this work is unfolding. I바카라 사이트™m pleased with the progress we have made so far; we바카라 사이트™re on target to make our provisional decision by the middle of next year.
This is far more than a paper exercise 바카라 사이트“ hands-on site visits, teach-ins and roundtables are helping us build a true picture of how vet services operate day-to-day and where the challenges lie. Our new advisory panel 바카라 사이트“ made up of practicing vet nurses and surgeons 바카라 사이트“ will also bring immeasurable experience to the process, all of which will help us make well-informed decisions and reach the right conclusions.
The next steps are set out in the administrative timetable on the vets case page.
Notes to editors:
- For information, brief biographies of each member of the advisory panel have been published online.
- The site visits took place across the UK 바카라 사이트“ in Belfast, Edinburgh, Swansea, and several locations in England including Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Cheshire, East and West London, Greater Manchester, Somerset, and Surrey.
- The 6 large corporate vet groups in the UK are IVC, CVS, Medivet, Pets at Home, Linnaeus, and Vet Partners which together account for 60% of the market. There are also around 350 smaller chains and a much larger number of independently owned practices. Sources: RCVS, IVC, CVS, Pets At Home, Medivet, Linnaeus 바카라 사이트“ correct as of Oct 2023.
- Read more about the CMA and its predecessors바카라 사이트™ market investigations work here: Market investigations: 75 years of UK experience - 바카라 사이트 (www.gov.uk).
- For media enquiries, contact the CMA press office on 020 3738 6460 or press@cma.gov.uk.
- All enquiries from the public should be directed to the CMA바카라 사이트™s General Enquiries team on general.enquiries@cma.gov.uk or by phone on 020 3738 6000.