Government opens the door to regulatory reform

Vet practices will be required to publish price lists for common treatments and be transparent about other options as part of sweeping regulatory reforms.

The government’s white paper, Our vision for a thriving veterinary sector, outlines the government’s next steps to support a modern veterinary sector through reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966.

Under the reforms, vet practices will be required to make ownership clear, so pet owners know if their local practice is part of a larger chain or independent. This will be supported by an enhanced ‘Find a Vet’ service and there will be a £21 cap on written prescription fees.

Every vet practice will need an official operating licence – similar to GP surgeries and care homes – and the government is considering introducing a new ombudsman to regulate the sector. With the power to make binding decisions, the ombudsman will ensure disputes are resolved more quickly and fairly, increasing confidence across the sector.

The government will introduce rules on how veterinary businesses must operate with an easier and more effective route for customers to raise concerns, along with more support to allow vets and vet nurses to carry out their roles.

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.

Legal recognition for veterinary nurses aims to strengthen professional identity, helping improve job satisfaction and boosting retention rates. 

The government also said it would modernise processes for registration and “fitness to practice”, focusing on current competence rather than past mistakes.

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.

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.

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.”