Please Note

There are certain situations where the best treatment of your pet may require the use of drugs which do not hold an appropriate licence for the species concerned. These drugs may be human medicines or veterinary drugs licensed for use in different species and include some commonly used medicines such as pain relief drugs. These drugs will only be used when they are indicated and deemed necessary and no licensed alternatives exist. Their use is sometimes referred to as “off licence”. If you have any questions about the use of off licence drugs then please do not hesitate to discuss them with one of our veterinary surgeons.

We are able to supply nearly all POM-V (Prescription Only Medicine – Veterinarian) drugs to our clients as required for their pet’s health. However, we are only able to do this for animals under our care. Pets requiring repeat prescriptions are usually re-examined every four months to monitor their progress, although this may vary due to individual circumstances. We are also able to provide private prescriptions for POM-V drugs to animals under our care by the same arrangement. Our staff will be pleased to inform you of the price of any medications upon request.

Terms and Conditions for Small Animal Clients

Records

The Practice keeps computer records containing client information, clinical records about your pet and any financial history you may have with the Practice. These records are held in accordance with The Data Protection Act 1998. Please be assured that our client records are treated as absolutely confidential. They are used for practice use only but may be sent to insurance companies for claims processing, other veterinary practices (referrals, moving to a different area) and for the purposes of debt collection.

Fees

Uninsured Pets

Payment in full is required at the time of treatment, that is, at the end of each consultation or when collecting your pet from the hospital. We accept payment by cash, cheque (with valid guarantee card), credit and debit cards. We do not charge extra for payment by cheque or card. We can also accept payment by direct debit and standing order. Any treatment that remains unpaid will be subject to an administration charge calculated on the balance of the account. We will be happy to provide estimates for treatment costs prior to treatment. Please note that these are estimates and not quotations. If treatment is likely to exceed the estimate then we will always try to relay that information to you.

Insured Pets

An insurance policy is a contract between you, the client, and your insurer. As a service to our clients, we will accept payment direct from the insurer, but we require payment of the excess amount at the time of treatment. Please assist us to process your claim promptly by bringing a claim form to the Practice as soon as possible. We will endeavour to complete and send off your claim form within a few days of you leaving it with us, subject to the vet responsible for the care of your pet being available. We will not make a charge for the completion of the initial claim form, but reserve the right to make a charge to deal with any subsequent enquiries or requests from your insurer. Please be aware that should your insurer fail to settle your account, you, the client, will remain liable for the full amount.