Prescription charges

[Schutzengel]

Anyone seen the news that from the 1st November 2008, vets are now permitted once again to charge whatever they like for providing a prescription for animal medication. Mostly somewhere between �7 and �15.
This could probably cancel out any benefit from purchasing cheaper drugs over the internet.
Interested to hear any comments.

[Noweia]

Private doctors charge �10-15 for a prescription, BUPA charges �12 for a repeat prescription. This covers the cost of providing a professional service to a client. Vets aren't covered by a National Health Service - why should they be any different from private medical care?

[jules77]

This was announced months ago. From my experience, the vets got round not being able to charge by insisting on a consultation before writing a prescription anyway, and charging between �15 - �25. Only benefit was if the vet wrote out a prescription for long term medication covering a six month period.

No different to us really, a Doctor will not keep writing out repeat prescriptions without seeing us.

[Schutzengel]

FAO Noweia - I definitely agree.
FAO Jules - I agree with you. I posted this just to confirm the start date, as not everyone keeps up with the news. Last week I was at the vets when a young woman asked for a 6 month repeat prescription for her dog which has heart problems. While waiting at reception to pay for my pet's check up, she commented to me that she couldn't possibly pay vet's prices for the medication. I think she should have thought about that before taking on an animal which is a long term commitment, with no guarantee that it will remain in good health. I have two cats both on lifetime medication, a 3yr old for epilepsy, and a 21yr old for hypertension, and both are on a regime of regular check ups for which I am very relieved, regardless of cost, as their continued health is more important than the monetary cost to me. I am pleased to say they are both doing very well. Thank you and Noweia for your replies.

[garner]

I agree with the other abers ,my concern is alot of people will not pay those prices...then we are back to the poor animals who will suffer in the long run.Then there are the rescue centre's who have large costs and this is going to effect them.g.

[kita1]

I agree with garner.

People's circumstances change, what happens to people who have an old pet who loose their job? Do they get the pet put to sleep?

What about pensioners who are not in receipt of benefits in order to qualify for help?

Last night on the News there was a story about a welfare place for horses, seemingly they have been swamped with people having to give up their horses because they simply cannot afford to keep them, I am talking about people who have had horses for over 15 years and have just started to be hit by the recession.

Now that gas, electric and food prices have gone up so vastly I really fear that some people (especially old people living alone) are going to be forced into choosing between heating their house/eating or getting medication for their pets.

I think that animal charities are in for a very bad winter.