Brainchild of Tom Towey MRCVS, an ECC clinician, the new service allows vets to upload case details, including the level of urgency, and then browse the referral centres that can meet the need, listed by the distance to the practice or to the client and the level of expertise available (eg. Specialist / Advanced Veterinary Practitioner).
You then select the ones that look interesting, press submit, and the request is sent on your behalf.
The referral practices you've contacted can then reply with their estimate for the procedure and details of when they can see the case.
Quotes are sent both to you and to the client, so they can decide which they would prefer and take it from there.
Tom highlights part of the Competition and Markets Authority provisional report which says:
"10.16: Our provisional view is that, in a well-functioning market, where multiple referral providers are available and clinically appropriate, we would expect pet owners to be made aware that they can choose a referral provider and to be able to access information about those providers including the nature of the treatment, the skills and experience of the referral vet, the availability of appointments, and, in many cases, the likely cost."
Tom's new service seems to fit the bill precisely.
www.rapidreferrals.co.uk
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