Registration is compulsory, accreditation is not
Under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 only a registered veterinary surgeon may diagnose, perform surgery or prescribe prescription-only veterinary medicines. That register is held by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and is public.
The RCVS Practice Standards Scheme is a different thing: a voluntary accreditation of the practice itself, with inspections and tiers such as Core, General Practice and Veterinary Hospital. A practice can be perfectly legitimate without it, but accreditation means the premises and processes have been checked by someone other than the owner.
- Check the vet on the RCVS Find a Vet register
- Ask whether the practice is Practice Standards accredited, and at which level
- Ask who owns the practice, since many are part of large groups
Out-of-hours cover is the question people forget
The RCVS Code requires practices to make provision for 24-hour emergency cover, but that does not mean your own vet answers the phone at three in the morning. Many practices contract emergency work to a dedicated out-of-hours provider, sometimes several miles away.
Find out before you register where out-of-hours cases go, how far it is, and what the call-out fee is. An emergency consultation typically costs considerably more than a daytime appointment, and the moment you need it is a bad moment to discover that.
Costs, insurance and being asked to decide quickly
Veterinary fees are not regulated and vary widely. Practices are expected to give you an estimate and to discuss options, including the option of doing less. If you are ever presented with a single course of action and a large number, it is reasonable to ask what the alternatives are and what happens if you wait.
Pet insurance is worth understanding before you need it, particularly the difference between lifetime cover and policies that stop covering a condition after twelve months. Pre-existing conditions are generally excluded, which is why cover taken out young is worth more than cover taken out after a diagnosis.
You can ask for a second opinion
Asking for a referral or a second opinion is normal and your vet should help. It is not a criticism of the practice, and the RCVS Code expects them to facilitate it.
Frequently asked questions
- Can a veterinary nurse treat my animal?
- Registered veterinary nurses can carry out a defined range of medical treatment and minor surgery under the direction of a veterinary surgeon. Diagnosis, prescribing and more significant surgery remain restricted to the vet.
- Can a vet refuse to see my animal in an emergency?
- The RCVS Code requires vets to take steps to provide relief to an animal in an emergency, taking into account their own competence and the circumstances. In practice that usually means stabilising the animal or directing you to the appropriate emergency service.
- Can I get a prescription and buy the medicine elsewhere?
- Yes. You can ask for a written prescription and buy prescription-only veterinary medicines from another registered supplier, often more cheaply. Practices may charge a fee for writing it, and that fee should be disclosed on request.
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About this guide
Written and maintained by the LocalListed editorial team. It describes UK regulation and consumer protections in general terms and is not legal, financial or professional advice. Rules differ between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and change over time: always check the position with the named regulator before relying on it.