New Ȥҹapp President calls for animal welfare alongside client choice to be at the heart of CMA recommendations
26 Sep 2024
06 Feb 2025
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The Ȥҹapp (Ȥҹapp) has responded to the publication of five ‘working papers’ which set out the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) current assessment and emerging views as it undertakes its Market Investigation into UK veterinary services for household pets.
The papers show that the CMA has clearly been listening to concerns raised by Ȥҹapp and that it is working hard to understand the complexities of both the veterinary landscape and how clinical services are delivered.
Ȥҹapp welcomes the CMA’s recognition of the ‘dedication and commitment to pet owners and their animals shown by vets and vet nurses’, reflected in its pet owner survey where 88% of respondents agreed that their vet focused on the highest standard of care for their pet’s health.
Ȥҹapp also welcomes the CMA’s clear recognition of the urgent need for veterinary legislative reform to replace the outdated Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966.
However, whilst it’s clear that the CMA is listening, there is lots to digest within the papers and Ȥҹapp will respond in full shortly. It is vital that the CMA fully understands the nuances around the provision of key services, such as out of hours and referrals, to ensure any future remedies do not inadvertently lead to a reduction in choice for clients, which in turn could have a detrimental impact on animal welfare.
Ȥҹapp President Dr. Elizabeth Mullineaux said: “These working papers clearly show the CMA has been listening to Ȥҹapp as we’ve represented our members and the profession. I’m particularly proud to see the hard work, dedication and professionalism of vet teams acknowledged. This is the profession that I know and love and is a far cry from the misleading media headlines we’ve endured since the CMA launched its investigation over 12 months ago. However, there is still work to do, these papers suggest that the CMA is failing to fully understand the nuances around key provisions like out-of-hours services and referrals. Ȥҹapp will now carefully consider these working papers and address these concerns in our detailed response.”
Ȥҹapp alongside BSAVA, BVNA and FIVP will give oral evidence to the CMA at a formal hearing in March.
Ȥҹapp is already supporting the profession to help clients make informed choices through greater transparency around vet fees and practice ownership.
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