Costs: Vet vs Medic

Re: Costs: Vet vs Medic

Hannah Wynne Richards — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:22:28 GMT

Don't think it's a good idea to include hospitalisation charges (unless you lot all have VERY luxurious kennels !!!!!) Veterinary licensed drugs are MORE expensive GPs don't need radiography, endoscopy, surgery, ultrasound, laboratory etc facilities, so in all those respects our overheads are higher (Idon't have ultra sound , but have al the rest ), and I don't have an interest -free loan on the practice premises, so in all those respects, our premises are more like a private hospital than a GPs surgery. They are now "pioneering "day surgery for many procedures as well !!!!!

Wynne

Re: Costs: Vet vs Medic

Julian Earl — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 10:11:08 GMT

I've already osted this in the other thread but no harm in adding it here:

Private orthopaedic surgeon in Bristol 2005: £100 per 20 minute consultation, £50 for looking at radiographs then another £100 to discuss the findings with me, £40 per physiotherapy appointment. Oh, and £75 for accomodation the night prior to surgery.

I might still have the receipts for the surgery - I'll look them up as well.

Re: Costs: Vet vs Medic

Clive Ansell — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 08:55:19 GMT

If a client moans about cost I am always quick to point out that roughly £1 in every £7 is VAT and that we are just acting as tax collectors for HMRC. If they go on about it I advise they write to their MP.

other medical cost I have encountered

private GP prescription = £21

GP medical for HGV licence (questionaire, BP. height, weight, urinalysis, basic eye test) = £100

Medical for pilots licence (above plus ecg, lung function test, more detailed sight and hearing tests, haemoglobin level) = £250

NHS Consultant seen privately appointment for 30 min = £140

Re: Costs: Vet vs Medic

Alex Gough — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 08:16:08 GMT

Personally I would say a GP surgery has fewer overheads than a veterinary practice, given the limited range of procedures that are performed there. GP surgeries are much more poorly equipped than the average veterinary practice. They also get a lot of government help, eg in buying the premises for them. I agree that the cost of running a hospital is likely to be higher than the cost of running a veterinary practice, and I wouldnt choose to get into a debate about it. However, it is a subject that people bring up "It wouldnt cost this much for a human." In fact people generally, including many doctors, have no idea what healthcare costs.

Alex

Re: Costs: Vet vs Medic

Laurence Webb — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 23:35:37 GMT

[quote user="Arlo Guthrie"]Spay vs hysterectomy
[/quote]

I agree with Gillian that you have to be careful with direct comparisons over everything. A routine spay is admitted in the morning, has the op and is discharged in the afternoon. Post op analgesia and aftrercare will vary a lot between practices. A human hysterectomy is a major intervention that requires hospitalisation with lots of nursing care and I'd assume (hope!) that a nurse with an oesophageal stethoscope isn't the general level of anaesthetic moitoring employed.

Charges for consults, ECGs, ultrasounds and X-rays are probably easier to compare. Not that that won't stop me quoting BUPA hysterectomy prices next time someone says that £60 for a cat spay is extortinate!

Re: Costs: Vet vs Medic

Gillian Mostyn — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 22:25:22 GMT

very true

Re: Costs: Vet vs Medic

Noweia — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 22:22:13 GMT

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]. Not to mention ... cost of human-licensed drugs (and increased qualntities used) etc etc.
[/quote]

Agree with most of your post but this one - humans can use generics where available whereas we're bound by the cascade!

Re: Costs: Vet vs Medic

Gillian Mostyn — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 21:40:03 GMT

I think we do have to be a little careful though in making direct comparisons between human and animal medical care. Afterall, we do harp on about our overheads - I'm sure they don't even compare with the overheads of running a GP surgery, let alone an hospital. If nothing else, their insurance premiums must be massive considering what negligence claims cost! They must have far more admin staff than us. And, generally speaking, more medical experts are involved in a human's care than an animal's. Not to mention the cutting edge technology, cost of human-licensed drugs (and increased qualntities used) etc etc. Although I agree that people don't understand the cost of their medical care, I would also say that we shouldn't really compare ourselves too much - the professions are totally different.

Re: Costs: Vet vs Medic

Rachel Tucker — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 21:28:58 GMT

OOH charges for consults (if they do them) u/s hospitalisation charges

Very excellent idea

Re: Costs: Vet vs Medic

Alex Gough — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 19:25:55 GMT

Ultrasound scans - pregnancy diagnosis, full abdomen, heart

Hospitalisation

Private prescription

Endoscopy (gastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy}

Cruciate repair

Alex

Re: Costs: Vet vs Medic

scarlet — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:29:12 GMT

blood tests (fullprofile+heam+electroyltes), hospitalization per night, u/s scan

dental extraction with ga , iv fluids, caesar

Re: Costs: Vet vs Medic

Hannah Wynne Richards — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:22:49 GMT

Excellent idea Add hourly rate for surgery

Wynne