New local veterinary practice

Re: New local veterinary practice

Martin Atkinson — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 17:43:55 GMT

[quote user="An On MRCVS"]

Martin - not sure why your mate bothers for whatever cut her gets of £600 for a TTA!

[/quote]

Re: New local veterinary practice

Stephen Courtney — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 15:14:29 GMT

They seem to be everywhere today, no idea if it is one or many.

It might be better to do away with the anon and simply make people register under a nom de plume if they want to just so we can tell them apart!

Re: New local veterinary practice

Gillian Mostyn — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 15:07:05 GMT

why Anon????

Re: New local veterinary practice

An On MRCVS — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 13:44:08 GMT

Martin - not sure why your mate bothers for whatever cut her gets of £600 for a TTA!

Re: New local veterinary practice

An On MRCVS — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 13:42:22 GMT

Why has noone else noticed that they now offer "free consultations" to "sick and injured" animals. Presumably then, if they find nothing wrong, you have to pay a consultation fee. Perhaps this is because they have experienced time wasters? People with two much time on their hands and a lot of love for their pet (pensioners and the like) thinking "well there's nothing wrong with Betsy but I might as well get her checked if it's free"....

This is a HUGE difference to me....curious noone else has picked up on it..

One other thing, EVERY modern vet practice website has a photo and description of the vets and nurses....this whizz bang website doesn't...it has no mention of the names of any of the staff. Are they embarrassed to work there?

Re: New local veterinary practice

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 31 May 2013 10:16:50 GMT

I always feel that someone is rather insecure and afraid of their real reputation when they are over-gushy about their practice and start adding client testimonials to their website, it may carry a bit more cred. if they published the complaints as well but no-one is likely to do that are they? Credit where credit is due though - as for the in-house referrals, a very good friend of mine is a peripatetic orthopaedic surgeon and does work for them in-house so its not all bluster. The 'terms and conditions' are surely born from poor experience from the inevitable rush of dodgy clients who are trying to take advantage so they are learning and showing their true colours that their philosophy is not purely philanthropic as they led all to believe at the beginning. However they do have a sense of humour, when my orthopod friend told them that he knew me they told him to tell me that they were opening up a new practice near me.

Re: New local veterinary practice

Bob Russell — Fri, 31 May 2013 09:46:42 GMT

Quotes from website:

"We do however insist that you use us as your only vets and regrettably we are only able to offer veterinary services to dogs, cats, rabbits and some other small mammals."

"If you are not a registered and regular client with Animal Trust this service is available at the sole discretion of Animal Trust, but an additional out of hours registration fee will apply."

I think this qualifies as 'many terms and conditions apply'!

Re: New local veterinary practice

Wren — Fri, 31 May 2013 09:32:59 GMT

And the 'Animal Plan Plus' plan is £10/month more expensive and includes vaccination, flea control and worming. £120/year is a lot of money for vaccs, flea tx and worming, especially for a small dog. Not a bargain at all.

Re: New local veterinary practice

Gillian Mostyn — Fri, 31 May 2013 08:49:00 GMT

[quote user="CatherineThomas"] I wonder how many people are shocked when they are told that their plan doesn't cover the whole cost of treatment.[/quote]

Absolutely- it seems to give the impression that it is healthcare cover, but actually, it isn't. What's the point? You'd be better just getting insurance....???

Re: New local veterinary practice

Gillian Mostyn — Fri, 31 May 2013 08:46:50 GMT

[quote user="Mark Holmes"]What do you reckon - good old Trims?[/quote]

yeah - or amoxycillin. Either which way, the choice of drug is theirs, but this quote is ridiculous - even for them!!!!

Re: New local veterinary practice

Mark Holmes — Thu, 30 May 2013 23:10:11 GMT

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]

Just in case anyone is interested:

So far we still haven't noticed any impact from the practice. We have had the inevitable people come to us who are dissatisfied - but all of us get some of those. I think a few people have been upset with busy waiting rooms, scruffiness and general lack of cleanliness as well as it costing more than they had expected!

There seems to have been some changes there with time, their new and funky website makes interesting reading these days:

http://www.animaltrust.org.uk/

Their direct debit monthly care plan is fascinating in what they do and don't cover........ it would concern me that a client would need to have that as well as insurance really to feel secure.

I think they are sailing a little close to the wind with their discussion about the 'referral procedures' that they do in-house, but that is just my opinion.

It seems I was correct that Joe Bloggs will assume they are some sort of a charity. One of the callers to the Paul O'Grady show last Sunday on radio 2 wanted to say thanks to their vet - animal trust -for looking after their sick cat. The caller described them as a 'charitable practice in Bolton'. Hmmmmm....

The funniest new addition to the website, though is on the testimonials page:

Fantastic place and everyone was so friendly. Although I nearly fell over when you told me the price! My old vets would have charged around £100 and you charged £20 for a 2 week course of antibiotics for my 73kg Bullmastiff.

A. Healy

[/quote] What do you reckon - good old Trims?

Re: New local veterinary practice

CatherineThomas — Thu, 30 May 2013 22:19:22 GMT

I guess the monthly plan is just a loyalty scheme really, but for the average customer it would look more like an insurance policy. I wonder how many people are shocked when they are told that their plan doesn't cover the whole cost of treatment. We have a loyalty scheme and we are careful to explain to people that it isn't insurance but we still get some people who don't listen and expect it to work like insurance.

Re: New local veterinary practice

Gillian Mostyn — Thu, 30 May 2013 21:31:03 GMT

Just in case anyone is interested:

There seems to have been some changes there with time, their new and funky website makes interesting reading these days:

http://www.animaltrust.org.uk/

Their direct debit monthly care plan is fascinating in what they do and don't cover........ it would concern me that a client would need to have that as well as insurance really to feel secure.

I think they are sailing a little close to the wind with their discussion about the 'referral procedures' that they do in-house, but that is just my opinion.

The funniest new addition to the website, though is on the testimonials page:

A. Healy

Re: New local veterinary practice

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 11:23:05 GMT

[quote user="Liz white"]I wonder if they were planning to do like dentists seem to - go NHS until they build up a client base, then switch to private once they've got many as they can handle. (Obviously not NHS in their case, but you get the idea). Do you think they are slow to ask for histories, or do you not appeared to be affected?

[/quote] I'm pretty sure they are planning on building up their client base then selling to a corporate, They have (allegedly) done it before!

Re: New local veterinary practice

Gillian Mostyn — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 09:17:50 GMT

As they say, turnover is vanity, profit is sanity.

Re: New local veterinary practice

Mark Hedberg — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 22:18:24 GMT

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]

Just in case anyone is interested...

I guess the business plan had a couple of flaws - their marketing (including website) now stipulates only ill/injured animals get a free consultation. I guess they got sick of the 'just a health check please' people. It does mean, however, that they have reclaimed control of exactly who qualifies for a free consultation. Interesting.

They have also started to charge a surcharge, over and above the usual £50, for people who want to come OOH but who are not registered with them. I thought they might be busy.....

So far, have still sent very very few clinical histories to them and no clients have queried our charges.....

I am still genuinely interested in their business model as I'd love to do it if I thought it would be viable. Still not convinced it is.

[/quote]

I've seen a few ads in the Vet Times; if you believe what the ad said, they're recruiting (or have already recruited) a fifth vet.

Re: New local veterinary practice

Gillian Mostyn — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 19:11:33 GMT

[quote user="Liz white"]Do you think they are slow to ask for histories, or do you not appeared to be affected?[/quote]

Hard to know really- but I suspect they would be happy to ask for a history.

Re: New local veterinary practice

Liz w — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 18:37:18 GMT

I wonder if they were planning to do like dentists seem to - go NHS until they build up a client base, then switch to private once they've got many as they can handle. (Obviously not NHS in their case, but you get the idea). Do you think they are slow to ask for histories, or do you not appeared to be affected?

Re: New local veterinary practice

Gillian Mostyn — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 18:32:38 GMT

Just in case anyone is interested...

They have also started to charge a surcharge, over and above the usual £50, for people who want to come OOH but who are not registered with them. I thought they might be busy.....

So far, have still sent very very few clinical histories to them and no clients have queried our charges.....

I am still genuinely interested in their business model as I'd love to do it if I thought it would be viable. Still not convinced it is.

Re: New local veterinary practice

Martin Atkinson — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 10:47:49 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]Sorry Martin, I think you have to send the bill to yourself this time.[/quote] I actually managed to extract £25 out of them by making them feel bad that it was their fault so a bit of a result

Re: New local veterinary practice

patrick murphy — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 10:44:26 GMT

but were they not offering up to £55K? I bet most associates would be happy for that.

Re: New local veterinary practice

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 19:14:34 GMT

[quote user="Michael Woodhouse"]

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]

It's their case, why are you doing it?

Anyway, why not do the job and send the bill to Mr. Cheapo?

[/quote]

My understanding is Martin spayed the cat with a voucher that the 'cheap' practice won't accept, so the post op complications really are his problem.

[/quote]

Sorry. I got the wrong end of the stick there.

Sorry Martin, I think you have to send the bill to yourself this time.

Re: New local veterinary practice

Michael Woodhouse — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 18:55:43 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]

It's their case, why are you doing it?

Anyway, why not do the job and send the bill to Mr. Cheapo?

[/quote]

My understanding is Martin spayed the cat with a voucher that the 'cheap' practice won't accept, so the post op complications really are his problem.

Re: New local veterinary practice

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 18:11:57 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]

Sorry for quoting myself but this just got worse. Cat got its Buster collar off and chewed its sutures out, 3 days later - this afternoon, they decided to tell us (called own vet Saturday but OOH charge was too high!) so now the wound is infected and the muscle wound herniated and I'm supposed to put it back together again for next to nothing.

[/quote]

It's their case, why are you doing it?

Anyway, why not do the job and send the bill to Mr. Cheapo?

Re: New local veterinary practice

Gillian Mostyn — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 17:47:00 GMT

[quote user="Mark Hedberg"]

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]

[quote user="Mark Hedberg"]Well, according to the Vet Record of 8 September 2012; they're looking to expand to a 5th vet. Like it or not, they're fulfilling either a need, or a perception of a need...[/quote]

Maybe they're sick of working 24/7

[/quote]

True, but I know a few vets that seem to work 24/7 and can't afford to hire multiple vets.

[/quote]

It wasn't a serious post - and there was a compliment in there somewhere, red star man! Obviously nobody would hire vets unless they are really busy. Their turnover is obviously doing great. But as the dragons say, turnover is vanity, profit is sanity!

As Ian said, we've lost very few clients and haven't felt an impact from them as yet. I suspect they are correct, in that they will be seeing a lot of clients who previously did not seek veterinary care very often at all. Good luck to them.