Written prescription fees
We are always happy to provide owners with a written prescription for medications for their pets. This written prescription can be used to order the medications from an external supplier or an on-line pharmacy as you wish. Please ask if you would like a written prescription instead of buying the medications directly from us.
We are updating our written prescription charges to align with the new levels set by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) after their report issued earlier this year.
- Written prescription fee for first medication prescribed: £21.00 incl VAT
- Written prescription for each additional medication prescribed at the same time: £12.50 incl VAT per extra medication.
- What this covers: This fee is solely for the administrative service of issuing a written prescription, which allows you to purchase your pet’s medicines from an external supplier or online pharmacy if you choose. The cost of the medication itself is separate.
How much medication is covered
- Clinical Discretion: We must tailor the quantity of medication specifically to your individual pet’s needs and the severity of their condition. The CMA does not dictate how many tablets or millilitres a vet must write down on a single prescription.
- 3-Month Standard: For stable, long-term conditions (like chronic arthritis, thyroid issues, or heart conditions), we will typically issue prescriptions to cover a maximum of 3 months of treatment.
- Controlled Drugs: Certain highly regulated medications (like some epilepsy or strong pain treatments) are restricted by law and can only be prescribed for a shorter length of time ( maximum of 1 month initially then on a case-by-case basis).
- Review Requirements: In order to continue to issue repeat written prescription, we are legally required to re-evaluate your pet to attend a check-up to ensure the medication is still working safely. How often this is done will depend on your pet’s individual condition but will be at least every 6 months . This check up is usually best performed by an examination in clinic but can occasionally be done by a phone consultation.
We remain committed to providing the highest standard of medical care and transparency for your animals. If you have any questions about your pet’s ongoing treatment plan or prescriptions, please feel free to reach out to our team.