BBC Watchdog

RE: BBC Watchdog

Beats — Thu, 29 Nov 2018 20:03:15 GMT

I once lived above and worked in a branch of a veterinary clinic in a comparatively destitute part of the UK.

It was fairly Spartan other than a few old leads hanging from a stand in the waiting room, and a lonesome seat in the consult room.

Most of the inhabitants of that town frequented the other veterinary clinic in town, with rusted bars on the windows, cracked whitewash walls and, crucially, a non-tarmacked parking area more suited for BMX's than cars. I considered the state of the car-park to be that clinic's key marketing advantage - it told punters what they needed to know, that this was the cheapest veterinary clinic in town.

Then one day I had a well-dressed lady in from the posh village, the other side of the postcode divide, where the fancy hospital that had spawned my branch happened to reside. She had driven 40 minutes, and took pride in explaining her financially prudent decision to me. She had no intention of paying for water coolers in a "client information zone" and the tenderly cared for pot plants that adorned the main hospital....

Ironically she was, of course, paying for them via the exact same pricing structure she could have enjoyed in a well-air-conditioned modern building... without the motoring costs...

RE: BBC Watchdog

Arlo Guthrie — Thu, 29 Nov 2018 19:21:38 GMT

The most daft piece of investigative reporting I've watched in a while:

https://www.vetsurgeon.org/news/b/veterinary-news/archive/2018/11/29/shocking-tv-expos-233-finds-some-vets-charge-more-than-others.aspx

RE: BBC Watchdog

Francisco Gomez — Thu, 29 Nov 2018 18:05:18 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]

I don't know why we're not all honest about this and tell clients that: yes I do make a mark-up on drugs but that is subsidising the rest of you pet's treatment. I'm happy to provide a prescription, albeit you will have to pay or that, if you're happy to pay more for your pet's treatment. Failing that. I still need to make a profit, pay wages and other overheads and if I can't then I won't be here next time you need me in an emergency.

[/quote]

Pretty much what I do.

RE: BBC Watchdog

Bob Russell — Thu, 29 Nov 2018 14:02:42 GMT

It was mentioned that the profit on medicines helps to cover other costs and that without it prices would have to go up.

I also believe bricks and mortar premises are being made to pay premium prices to subsidise on line suppliers. Similar to the problem with Royal Canin Veterinary Diets being cheaper to buy and have delivered than we pay excluding VAT.

The idea that veterinary practices are profiteering on medicine sales is just about the only one that is untrue!!

RE: BBC Watchdog

Martin Atkinson — Thu, 29 Nov 2018 13:27:54 GMT

RE: BBC Watchdog

Joyce Whitehead — Thu, 29 Nov 2018 13:18:38 GMT

[quote user="Iain Richards"]

Big BVA contribution in programme. Robin Hargreaves did an hour interview, edited to 2 mins

[/quote]

Typical Watchdog then! BVA response here.

https://www.bva.co.uk/news-campaigns-and-policy/newsroom/news-releases/bva-response-to-bbc-watchdog-discussion-on-costs-of-veterinary-medicine/

I had had written a little crib sheet for our staff after watching this last night which is essentially similar to the BVA response. So far no client comments...

RE: BBC Watchdog

Iain Richards — Thu, 29 Nov 2018 11:07:20 GMT

Big BVA contribution in programme. Robin Hargreaves did an hour interview, edited to 2 mins

RE: BBC Watchdog

Bob Russell — Thu, 29 Nov 2018 10:09:24 GMT

They were itching for a fight they did not get!

Our meloxicam would probably be around £40 for a large bottle.

Judge What's His Name would not get out of bed for the hourly rate that most vets are earning so not sure he can be considered a fair person to make the point.

I don't rate Prinovox/Advocate for value for money anyway but he could have made it clear that worming is almost a side effect of the product!

Quite a fair defence really but not sure the message got through that we often cannot buy the medicines excl VAT for the price they are being sold including VAT and delivery. This is the fault of the manufacturers and probably more, the wholesalers happy to sell in bulk for a small margin.

It is what it is!

RE: BBC Watchdog

Wren — Thu, 29 Nov 2018 08:03:22 GMT

[quote user="Judith Archbold"]Actually my little “FB messenger ranting vet group of friends“ looked on the Watchdog twitter feed after the show and most comments were along the lines of “ well of course vets charge more as they are skilled professionals / businesses / have overheads etc.” so I think this time the vet-bashing might not be too bad.[/quote]

I believe there was one amusing twitter comment along the lines of "and next week - shock revelation that it costs more to buy a glass of wine in a pub than a bottle in a major supermarket". Which sums it up nicely!

RE: BBC Watchdog

Anthony Todd — Thu, 29 Nov 2018 07:54:21 GMT

I hope the BVA, or some one, puts up a justification next week otherwise vets become "rogue traders".

Noel would be a good one??

RE: BBC Watchdog

Judith Archbold — Thu, 29 Nov 2018 07:19:41 GMT

Rob Rinder has a brachycephalic breed so he probably has a gripe against the veterinary profession as he’s had to pay to have all the breed deformities fixed for the poor dog!

Actually my little “FB messenger ranting vet group of friends“ looked on the Watchdog twitter feed after the show and most comments were along the lines of “ well of course vets charge more as they are skilled professionals / businesses / have overheads etc.” so I think this time the vet-bashing might not be too bad.