Prescriptions Vet

[jayp]

Join our free community today.

Connect with other like-minded dog lovers!

Login or Register

Has anyone asked for a prescription from their vet rather than pay vet prices and what sort of reaction did you get?

As you all probably know for the next 3 years vets are not allowed by law to make any charge for writing prescriptions, this is to allow for fair competition if you wish to buy drugs cheaper from other sources. Did you know most uk vets have a much higher markup than in europe.

I asked for one for steroids and antibiotics and got them for less than half the price which is a lot for long term illnesses. Vetmedic supplied

The first time i asked was given prescription no trouble, when i asked next time was told i would have to pay for writing said prescription, I said this was illegal under the new act. I was forced to pay but asked if he minded if i researched this issue. I downloaded the govt bill and found i was right.

on my return i was told i was correct but would now be charged a diagnosis fee. I said as i had paid for my consultation why had i to pay this extra fee. Ipaid up.

I then rang the practice manager and asked her to ring the office of fair trading for clarification.

The bill clearlt states For the next 3 years anyone asking for a prescription cannot be discrimminated against. In other words if you are charged any extra on top of consultation then he must charge every client the same diagnosis fee on top of consult fee.

They must also have in the surgery a price list of the top 10 prescribed drugs for your comparison on view.

I realise everyone has to make a living but this is designed to stop the unfair monopoly by vets

The practice manager rang back and agreed to refund charges but would not admit they were mistaken.

Does your vet have price list in view?

Have any of you been charged extra fees?

Love to know :- " :- " Jan

 

[kim & Tilly]

no i dont think they do...

do you have a link to the information please

also i have pet insurance, but they make me pay then claim of the insuance company....is this right?

 

[dessie]

I am probably not the best one to answer this as my Vet is also a friend and I get special 'deals' but I have two dogs on regular (expensive) medication which my Vet practice just cannot compete with on price, simply because I can buy it cheaper from Canine Chemist/Vetmedic than they can from their supplier so I have prescriptions for both of those.

Coco also used to have both Veterinary drugs (which I got from my Vet because I would have had to buy a huge quantity from the pharmacy) and a human drug for which I used to have a prescription, purely because it was no longer available as a canine preparation. I had to pay at the chemist to get the drug because it was considered a 'private' prescription but I do not pay my Vets for them to issue me with a prescription.

I cannot be 100% sure (I can ask) but I do not think my practice make a charge in any sort of guise for writing a prescription anyway.

I also have a prescription for things like Rimadyl because I always keep that in my dog cupboard and will 'self prescribe' and can buy that cheaper from the vet pharmacies. Vets probably wouldn't normally be happy doing something like that but, as I said, my Vet trusts me to know when to give drugs such as that.

 

[whippetsrus]

I haven't seen a pricelist up a our vets. My dogs are not on any longterm medication and I am so grateful when they are ill just to get them right that I pay up.

However, I do hate feeling overcharged on things such as wormers and flea treatments so I will be buying these online in future.

 

[whippetsrus]

no i dont think they do...
do you have a link to the information please

also i have pet insurance, but they make me pay then claim of the insuance company....is this right?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

Vets seem to prefer it this way as if there is any delay they are not waiting for their money. If you read you policy you will probably find that your insurance company would be happy to pay the vets direct less your excess. I know that mine are willing to do so.

 

[Black Diamond]

Depending on which vet you get at my vets practice the charges go up & down.

I need 9 wormers every 3 months & get charged anything from £15 - £25.

Bloody ridiculous !!!!!

 

[jayp]

no i dont think they do...
do you have a link to the information please

also i have pet insurance, but they make me pay then claim of the insuance company....is this right?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

Dont have link but if you go to Vetmedic website you can find the new regulations on there. If you cant find i will check for link but info is at work jan

 

[~Helen~]

Depending on which vet you get at my vets practice the charges go up & down.
I need 9 wormers every 3 months & get charged anything from £15 - £25.

Bloody ridiculous !!!!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

you can buy wormers, DAP, and Frontline flea treatments online much more cheaply than at the vet. The cheapest I've found at the moment is vetuk.co.uk because their p&p is free :thumbsup: They seem quite reliable, I've always received my stuff quickly.

 

[chelle123]

My mum has an old spaniel who is on metacam and propulin? cant spell it, but its for bladder weakness, would i be cheaper getting things like that on-line. How does it work do i scan my prescription and email them?

 

[jayp]

My mum has an old spaniel who is on metacam and propulin? cant spell it, but its for bladder weakness, would i be cheaper getting things like that on-line. How does it work do i scan my prescription and email them?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

If you just ring them, tell them what you want,post prescription and it will be with you in 5 days And yes it is all so much cheaper. Vetmedic were really helpfull,the more of us use this service the more likely it is that vets will have to reduce the price on thir drugs in order to compete, so tell all your friends!!!!!!! jan

 

[JAX]

Mayzee is on Vivitonin and from my old vets it was £42.00 for 60 tablets (w00t) , when this new law came out I got them from Manor Pharmicies ( part of Vetmedic ) for £16.00

Now I knew Id have to get presciptions from vets , but he made me ( apparentley its law ) take Mayzee back every 3 months for check up , charge £16.00 . One month I was 1 day over the 3 months and he wouldnt give me a prescripion :rant: , . I now go to my old semi retired vet who charges me £16.00 and sends them in the post (without needing to see Mayzee :- " )

As for wormers , from Vet medic they are about £1.75 each ( Drontal Plus ) from the Vets £2.00+ :rant:

When I asked first Vet why his charge was £42.00 and I could get them for £16.00 , he said `I have to stick with a certain supplier ` B :rant: **ks . Hes now lost a very long standing client (with alot of dogs )

 

[dessie]

When I asked first Vet why his charge was £42.00 and I could get them for £16.00 , he said `I have to stick with a certain supplier ` B :rant: **ks . Hes now lost a very long standing client  (with alot of dogs ) 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

Actually that is not bollocks!! Having had the same conversation with my Vet, she is just as peeved that I can buy certain drug cheaper than she can. They are committed to certain suppliers (bit like the NHS) and it is swings and roundabouts ..... they get good deals on some things that they buy HUGE quantities of and not such good deals on medications that there less demand for. On the reverse side, I used to buy Coco's Duphatrim from my Vet, probably a little bit dearer per tablet than I would get from Vetmedic or elsewhere but I would have had to buy a large quantity that she would never have got through in her lifetime because it was not a 'popular' drug.

By law, the Pharmacy has to have the original prescription and certainly Vetmedic turn it round by return post. And also by law, doctors & Vets can only give 3 repeat prescriptions without actually seeing the patient.

 

[CHRIS DOYLE]

no i dont think they do...
do you have a link to the information please

also i have pet insurance, but they make me pay then claim of the insuance company....is this right?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

Dont have link but if you go to Vetmedic website you can find the new regulations on there. If you cant find i will check for link but info is at work jan

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2005/20052751.htm

 

[masta]

When I asked first Vet why his charge was £42.00 and I could get them for £16.00 , he said `I have to stick with a certain supplier ` B :rant: **ks . Hes now lost a very long standing client  (with alot of dogs ) 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

Actually that is not bollocks!! Having had the same conversation with my Vet, she is just as peeved that I can buy certain drug cheaper than she can. They are committed to certain suppliers (bit like the NHS) and it is swings and roundabouts ..... they get good deals on some things that they buy HUGE quantities of and not such good deals on medications that there less demand for. On the reverse side, I used to buy Coco's Duphatrim from my Vet, probably a little bit dearer per tablet than I would get from Vetmedic or elsewhere but I would have had to buy a large quantity that she would never have got through in her lifetime because it was not a 'popular' drug.

By law, the Pharmacy has to have the original prescription and certainly Vetmedic turn it round by return post. And also by law, doctors & Vets can only give 3 repeat prescriptions without actually seeing the patient.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

they are commited to certain wholesalers on overall spend, discount is volume related over the whole of the drug spend certain products may be cheaper some maybe dearer. my approach is if i can source it cheaper i give the vet the opportunity to price match if they carnt i buy the cheaper if they winge i advise them to change wholesaler