15/10/2025
🐾 Hey Passey Place community — big news in the vet world today! 🐾
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has published its provisional decision in their long-running investigation into the UK veterinary services market (15 October 2025). You can read the CMA’s article here:
👉 https://www.gov.uk/guidance/understanding-the-cmas-provisional-decision-in-its-vets-market-investigation
In short: the CMA is concerned that many pet owners are being overcharged (especially for prescriptions and medicines), that price transparency is weak, and that big corporate groups dominate large parts of the market. They’ve proposed a package of reforms including:
capping prescription-writing fees (e.g. ~£16)
requiring vets to publish pricing more transparently
making clear which practices are part of large chains
encouraging easier access to lower-cost medicines and more consumer choice
possibly introducing a vet price comparison website
🐶 Where Passey Place Vets stands
We wanted to reassure all our clients that we’ve long tried to act in your (and your pets’) best interests — not just push “gold standard” every time. Here’s how what we practice already aligns with what the CMA is proposing:
We are 100% independently owned by Dr Sinclair, who also works day-to-day in the practice — so there’s no distant corporate chain driving pricing pressures behind the scenes.
Our written prescription charges are already below what the CMA is suggesting as a cap.
We encourage you to shop smart — yes, we know many online pharmacies are cheaper than us (sometimes even cheaper than our own wholesale cost!), and we’re not shy about saying that.
When it comes to recommendations, we always discuss options with you to work out the best for your pet. Taking into account: plans, weighing cost vs benefit, rather than just pushing the highest-cost option.
We are working on adding a “prices” page to our website so you can see upfront what routine treatments cost. And if you don’t see what you need, just ask — we’ll happily provide an estimate for your pet’s care.
🔍 What this could mean (and what we’re watching out for)
Any changes will take time. The CMA’s decision is still provisional (i.e. not final). So these are proposals, not yet binding rules.
We’ll need to adapt and possibly change some processes (publishing pricing, perhaps altering how we handle prescriptions) — but rest assured, we’ll do so in a way that doesn’t compromise the care and trust you expect from us.
✅ What you as pet owners can do (and expect from us)
Ask questions — if anything is unclear (why this test, this treatment, or that dose), we’re here to explain.
Shop around for medications — but do so safely, using reputable, regulated sources (make sure they are accredited by the VMD normally found at the bottom of the web page).
Watch for our new “Prices” page coming soon — transparency is one of our goals.
Provide feedback — the CMA is holding consultations; voices from pet owners matter.
We hope this helps clarify where Passey Place Vets stands in this shifting landscape. Our commitment remains: excellent care, honest advice, and fair fees.
🐾 All the Passey Place team 😺 🐶
P.S. Share or comment if you’d like us to post a simplified “what this means for you and your pet” version once things evolve!
