Terms & conditions

Welcome

Thank you for using my veterinary services. I aim to provide you with a professional and compassionate service that is in accordance with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons’ Code of Professional Conduct. This document aims to clearly explain my terms of business. If you ask me to provide treatment, you will be deemed to have accepted these terms. Please ask for further clarification or explanation of the terms if necessary. PLEASE NOTE that these terms and conditions will NOT apply at practices where I operate as a consultant, which will have their own terms and conditions that apply to work carried out on their premises.

1. Fees

Fees are determined by the length of time spent on a case and according to the drugs, materials and consumable items used. A detailed written invoice will be provided for all fees incurred.

2. Estimates

I am happy to provide a written estimate of the likely cost of a particular treatment, but please be aware that the final bill may vary because more or less treatment may be required, complications occur or because the full extent of treatment required is not apparent until treatment is started. If I think my estimate may be exceeded by more than 20 per cent, I will try to contact you for your authority to proceed. If, however, I cannot do so quickly, then I will complete the treatment in a way which I judge is necessary to protect the welfare of the animal.

3. Methods of Payment

I accept payment in cash, by cheque or by bank transfer (please include your name as a payment reference).

4. Settlement Terms

Fees are due for payment at the end of each consultation, when a patient is discharged after an in-patient procedure, or when medicines or supplies are collected. If all the fees are not to hand when payment would normally be made, I will send you an invoice, which will carry an additional charge to cover the cost of administration that may be deducted if payment is made promptly. If accounts remain unpaid, they will be referred to an appropriate outside agency for collection and further charges will be levied in respect of costs incurred in collecting the debt such as production of reports, as well as the charges of the agency used. Any cheque returned by my bank as unpaid, and any cash paid which turns out to be counterfeit will result in the original balance of the account being restored and any bank or administration charges added.

5. Inability to Pay

If for any reason you are unable to settle your account in full at the normal time I ask you to discuss the matter with me as soon as possible. Please note that part-payment or payment in instalments may only be sanctioned by me and must be agreed in writing.

6. Prescriptions & Long-term Medication

Prescriptions are available from me, but I can only prescribe relevant veterinary medicinal products following a clinical assessment of an animal under my care. You may obtain relevant medicinal products from me or any practice where I operate or ask for a prescription and obtain these medicines from another veterinary surgeon or a pharmacy. A prescription may not be appropriate if your animal is an in-patient or requires immediate medical treatment. Some chronic diseases require long-term medical treatment with periodic clinical examinations. My general policy is to re-assess an animal requiring repeat prescriptions for supplies of relevant veterinary medicinal products every three months, but this may vary according to the patient’s health requirements.

7. Ownership of Records and Radiographs

Case records including notes, radiographs, photographs, laboratory results, ECGs and ultrasound scans are the property of and will be retained by me. The treatment of your animal may involve specific investigations such as taking radiographs or performing ultrasound scans. Even though I make a charge for carrying out these investigations and interpreting the results, ownership of the resulting image or record (eg radiograph) remains with me. Copies of the notes together with the results of any tests or investigations will be given on request to any veterinary surgeon who is taking over a case.

8. Complaints and Standards

I hope you will never have cause to complain about my standard of service, but should you have a complaint it should be directed to me in the first instance. All complaints are carefully investigated.

9. Statutory Rights

These terms of business do not affect your statutory rights.

No addition or variation of these conditions will bind me unless agreed in advance and in writing. I may update or amend these terms and conditions at any time and place the most recent version on my website.

Terms& Conditions v1.2

3 May 2023