Tag: unexpected costs

Cheaper vet fees and new ombudsman in biggest reforms to vet sector in half a century

British Veterinary Association hails ‘pivotal moment’ for profession as Government confirms plans for reformed veterinary legislation 

  • Proposals for a new independent veterinary ombudsman to give pet owners stronger rights
  • Greater transparency on prices, business ownership and standards to help pet owners choose right care and save money.
  • Introduction of comparison website to drive down vet fees and cap on prescriptions.

Millions of pet owners will benefit from the most significant overhaul of veterinary regulation in six decades, as the government today (Thursday 9 July 2026) publishes its White Paper setting out its vision for a thriving and fairer veterinary sector. 

New measures will radically modernise the industry, delivering better protections for households and greater transparency around prices – helping pet owners understand what they are paying for, avoid unexpected costs and choose the best value care for their pets. 

Vet practices will be required to publish price lists for common treatments and be transparent about options and changes, allowing pet owners to choose the best treatment for their animals. This will be supported by an enhanced ‘Find a Vet’ service and a £21 cap on written prescription fees. Knowing key prices beforehand helps owners to choose the best value. 

A new independent veterinary ombudsman is also being considered to give pet owners a clear and straightforward route to redress when complaints cannot be resolved directly with their practice. With the power to make binding decisions, the ombudsman will ensure disputes are resolved more quickly and fairly, increasing confidence across the sector. 

The White Paper includes new proposals for veterinary businesses to be subject to statutory regulation, including a mandatory licencing system, inspections and published compliance reports to improve accountability and choice. Greater transparency around prices and practice ownership will be mandated for the first time, so pet owners can make genuinely informed decisions about their care. 

Secretary of State for Defra, Emma Reynolds said: “Pets are part of the family, but for too many households the cost of caring for them has become a real worry. These reforms will help owners avoid unexpected bills, compare prices more easily and get the best value care for their pets. 

“We’re modernising a system that hasn’t been updated for sixty years, putting pet owners first while giving vets the modern framework they need to support the future of the profession.” 

The White Paper responds to the findings of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) which highlighted concerns around transparency and competition in the veterinary sector.  Recommendations from the CMA will address competition concerns, ahead of the new legislation coming into force.   

These changes are vital with the profession today radically different to the 1960s when the Veterinary Surgeons Act was introduced.  The industry was then largely made up of agricultural vet practices and small family run businesses. The sector is now dominated by small animal care and a handful of large corporates meaning the legislation has not kept pace with the modern world. 

The reforms will support veterinary professionals and businesses, ensuring the regulatory framework keeps pace with a modern, growing sector. 

UK Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss, said: “The veterinary profession has changed enormously over the past 60 years, but the legislation underpinning it has not kept pace. 

“This new framework will build a stronger, more resilient veterinary profession fit to meet the needs of the UK’s animal sector whilst ensuring the highest standards of care for our animals.”   

Sarah Cardell, Chief Executive of the CMA, said: “We back the government’s proposals, which include our recommendations on regulating the sector.

“For the first time, these proposals would ensure that vet businesses are accountable to an independent regulator, while offering consumers more protection and a fairer deal.”

Veterinary professionals are essential to the UK’s high animal health and welfare standards. These reforms strengthen professional recognition especially for veterinary nurses, modernise outdated regulation and help safeguard the profession’s ability to continue to protect the UK from the threats from disease and food insecurity.    

The White Paper is being introduced following extensive public consultation. The consultation received thousands of responses from the public and veterinary sector which were carefully considered to shape the new White Paper.  

This announcement follows the publication of the Animal Welfare Strategy and is part of this Government’s ambitious reforms to animal welfare – improving the lives of millions of animals across the UK.  

British Veterinary Association hails pivotal moment for profession as Government confirms plans for reformed veterinary legislation

In a major milestone for the British Veterinary Association’s (BVA) long-standing campaign to reform the outdated Veterinary Surgeons Act (VSA) 1966, the UK Government has today (9 July 2026) published a White Paper, ‘Our vision for a thriving veterinary sector’, that sets out changes to how veterinary services are regulated and introduces greater accountability that will support animal owners.

BVA is strongly backing the proposals, which for the first time will regulate veterinary businesses and other veterinary professionals like farriers and equine dental technicians alongside vets and vet nurses, as well as protect the Registered Vet Nurse title.   

Today’s White Paper outlines a clear division of the regulatory and professional leadership functions – something BVA had pressed for – with transparency of funding and independent external oversight of the regulator alongside a strong and well-funded professional leadership function.

Responding to Defra’s plans for changes to veterinary legislation, British Veterinary Association President Dr. Rob Williams MRCVS said: “Current veterinary legislation is shockingly outdated and frankly is no longer fit for purpose.

“The publication of today’s White Paper is a positive, landmark moment for vet professionals, as well as for animals and their owners, taking us all one step closer to improved legislation that meets the demands of modern veterinary medicine.

“BVA will continue engaging on behalf of our members with government and parliamentarians, ensuring that the profession’s voice is heard so that the new legislation delivers for the profession, animal welfare, and the public.

“If we want to see a Bill introduced to Parliament next year, continued support from cross-party MPs as well as the veterinary profession will be essential.”

The Government’s proposals for a new VSA include:   

  • Regulation of veterinary and animal healthcare businesses as well as allied veterinary professionals such as equine dental technicians and farriers
  • Protection of the ‘Registered Vet Nurse’ title
  • An updated Fitness to Practise process to protect the public and animal health and welfare
  • Modernising registration by moving to a Licence to Practise system for the whole veterinary team
  • Updating the role and responsibilities of the regulator to ensure there is no real or perceived conflict of interest between regulatory and professional leadership activities, with oversight of the regulator by an independent, external body.

For more on BVA’s campaign to reform the Veterinary Surgeons Act, see: 

www.bva.co.uk/vsa  

Pet owners to benefit from biggest vet sector reforms in 60 years

Clearer pricing will help pet owners compare costs and shop around, saving families money

Millions of pet owners and vet professionals across the country will benefit from major reforms to the veterinary sector – the first overhaul in sixty years.

The reforms help households understand what they are paying for, avoid unexpected costs and choose the best value care for their pets.

They come after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) found problems in the veterinary market could be costing households up to £1 billion over five years. The CMA found that vet fees have risen at nearly twice the rate of inflation – which is why this government is taking action.

The proposals will make the system clearer, fairer and more transparent for owners – while supporting veterinary professionals alike.

Benefits for pet owners:

  • Clearer prices easing the ability to look around: Vet practices will be required to publish price lists for common treatments, and be transparent about options and changes allowing pet owners to choose the best treatment for their animals. Knowing key prices beforehand helps owners to choose the best value.
  • More competition to lower costs over time: Vet businesses must disclose who owns them so pet owners know if their local practice is part of a larger chain or independent. This knowledge and price transparency helps owners to decide which practice to use which increases competition and bring down costs over time.
  • Greater confidence in care: Every vet practice will need an official operating licence – similar to GP surgeries and care homes.
  • Fairer treatment complaints process: Stronger rules on how veterinary businesses must operate with an easier and more effective route for customers to raise concerns along with more support offered to allow vets and vet nurses to carry out their roles successfully; benefitting animal health and welfare.
  • Better access to quality care: New measures will bring veterinary nurses and certain allied veterinary professionals into regulation, freeing up veterinary surgeons to focus on more specialist care, improving access and reducing delays.

Benefits for veterinary professionals:

  • Legal recognition for veterinary nurses to strengthen professional identity, helping improve job satisfaction and boosting retention rates. 
  • Regulatory oversight of veterinary businesses, not just individual vets, so the responsibility for upholding standards is shared and clearer.
  • Modernised processes for registration and “fitness to practice”, focusing on current competence rather than past mistakes. 
  • A modern governance model for the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), whose current structure has remained largely unchanged since 1966 and now lags behind other healthcare regulators. Proposals will reduce potential conflicts of interest and strengthen public and professional trust.

Animal Welfare Minister Baroness Hayman said: “Pets are part of the family, and owners deserve clear information, fair treatment and confidence in the care their animals receive.

“We’re focused on making vet services work better for families by improving transparency, increasing choice and helping people make informed decisions, while continuing to support the professionals who care for our animals.”

UK Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Christine Middlemiss said: “Updating these rules will help build a modern veterinary service that is easier for the public to understand and navigate, while strengthening animal health outcomes and supporting a skilled, resilient workforce.

“Reforming the Veterinary Surgeons Act is a crucial step towards building a stronger, more resilient profession. This consultation gives pet owners and professionals the chance to help shape a system that works better for everyone.”

British Veterinary Association President Dr. Rob Williams MRCVS said: “Veterinary teams play a vital role in society, from caring for the nation’s animals and supporting our farmers and food production, through to assisting international trade, disease control and public health.

If we’re to continue delivering this work effectively, we need reformed veterinary legislation, and those changes will impact how we go about all aspects of our work; it’s therefore imperative that colleagues engage with Defra’s proposals, ensure their voices are heard and grasp this opportunity to shape a veterinary sector that’s fit for the 21st century.” 

Martin Coleman, Chair of the CMA Inquiry Group said: “We welcome the government’s consultation to update this vital regulation and protect pet owners.

“Our vets investigation is ongoing, but we have already set out our strong concern that the current rules are not fit for purpose and need reforming to keep pace with commercial practice and further build pet owner trust in veterinary businesses.”

Why change is needed:

60% of vet practices are owned by non-vets, with many operating under unclear ownership structures. The reforms propose a new licencing system requiring businesses to meet clear standards – with enforcement action, including potential loss of licence, where they fail to do so.

A modern disciplinary process will accompany the reforms, with a wider range of sanctions to ensure customer concerns are properly addressed and support veterinary professionals to safely carry out their roles. This will work to improve care whilst reducing punitive outcomes and will benefit both owners and professionals alike.

Veterinary professionals are essential to the UK’s high animal health and welfare standards. These reforms strengthen professional recognition, modernise outdated regulation and help safeguard the profession’s ability to continue to protect the UK from the threats to disease and food security. 

This announcement follows the publication of the Animal Welfare Strategy, and is part of this Government’s ambitious reforms to animal welfare – improving the lives of millions of animals across the UK. 

The consultation will run for 8 weeks.

Rocio Concha, Which? Director of Policy and Advocacy, said: “For years, Which? has been exposing unclear pricing and poor practice in the vet industry so it’s good to see the government taking steps to modernise the sector and ensure it treats pet owners fairly. 

“The current regulation is decades out of date and oversight of veterinary businesses, not just individual vets, is urgently needed. The government needs to ensure that its new licensing system has the right sanctions in place for businesses which break the rules. 

“The government must ensure these changes are introduced as soon as possible to restore consumer confidence in the sector. As part of these reforms, it should also legislate to establish a mandatory Ombudsman scheme with the power to make binding judgements about customer complaints and take action against any vets or vet practices falling short.”

BVA calls on vets to support reform of outdated veterinary legislation as Government launches proposals

Following years of campaigning by the British Veterinary Association (BVA), the UK Government has today (27 January 2026) taken a major step towards reforming the outdated Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 (VSA), launching a public consultation seeking views on its proposals for reformed legislation.   

The consultation will run for eight weeks and seeks input from across the veterinary team and from the public on a range of proposals that could see significant changes to how veterinary professionals are regulated, including the introduction of regulation for allied veterinary professionals (e.g. equine dental technicians and cattle hoof trimmers); vet businesses could be regulated for the first time; and there could be significant changes to the governance arrangements including the roles undertaken by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS).  

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has published its proposals following months of intensive engagement with a group of key organisations including BVA, RCVS, the British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA) and the Vet Schools Council (VSC), to understand the challenges and opportunities facing the sector and develop recommendations on what the options for proposed reform could look like.  

Reform of the VSA will have a significant impact on vets’ daily work, the service they provide their clients and the care given to animals. BVA will formally respond to the consultation on behalf of its members. BVA is also strongly encouraging all vets to support reform by engaging with the proposals and sharing their views with Defra via the consultation. 

British Veterinary Association President Dr. Rob Williams MCVRS said: “Vets play a vital role in society, from caring for the nation’s animals and supporting our farmers and food production, through to assisting international trade, disease control and public health.

“If we’re to continue delivering this work effectively, we urgently need reformed veterinary legislation, and those changes will impact how we go about all aspects of our work. It’s therefore imperative that colleagues engage with Defra’s proposals, ensure their voices are heard and grasp this opportunity to shape veterinary legislation that’s fit for the 21st century.” 

For more information on what Defra’s proposals mean, BVA members can access a series of recorded webinars explaining the detail.

There is also a Frequently Asked Questions section on the BVA website:

https://www.bva.co.uk/take-action/our-policies/veterinary-surgeons-act/  

BVA members can share their views with BVA via email at policy@bva.co.uk.  

The consultation closes at 23:59pm on 25 March 2026.