“The overall cost of day to day living, including high energy costs, remains a serious concern for both vet businesses and their clients” – BVA junior vice-president Anna Judson.
A senior vet who performed surgery says a 15-month-old cocker spaniel would have died without an initiative that allowed him and a colleague to help pay for it.
A range of free online resources has been unveiled by researchers at the University of Aberdeen following collaboration with a number of senior veterinary sector figures.
Animor said the decision to shut its Ellesmere Port site was in the best interests of clients, members and pets amid challenges including staff shortages.
Figures from the Veterinary Client Mediation Service (VCMS) show cases related to clinical fees rose by 27% in the year to October 2022, to 441 individual referrals.
Sessions will cover a variety of topics from how to diagnose liver disease and the metabolic causes of seizures to pain management in patients and portosystemic shunts.
The moves by CVS and Goddard Veterinary Group – now part of VetPartners – were outlined after an industry body warned falling practice acquisitions were likely to increase bosses’ attention on limiting costs.
The Competition and Markets Authority says more time is needed for suitable buyers to be found for 12 veterinary businesses, but still expects to accept the company’s plans.
Trading update also reveals CVS Group revenue grew by more than 7% during the past 12 months and that the company spent more than £50 million on UK practice acquisitions.
Bosses claim regulators’ move to delist one of its French operations, which has now been upheld after a legal challenge, could put many practices at risk.
Researchers from the University of York said current economic challenges, including high veterinary care costs, may act as a source of additional stress, though they acknowledge further analysis is needed.
Bosses say their plans – which could see hundreds of support staff roles axed – are necessary, but Unite leaders have accused them of caring more about their bottom line than animal or staff welfare.
The RCVS says it will consider its approach as part of a forthcoming technology review, after veterinary industry leaders were urged to act now to set guidelines around the use of AI in practice.
