I thought vet prescription charges were now illegal but a couple of weeks ago, when talking to the receptionist at my practice about maybe buying the drugs elsewhere, I was advised there would be a charge of £4.70 for a prescription.  Can anyone clarify please?

As of 31st October 2005, vets are not allowed to charge for providing a prescription. I'll go off and find a link to prove it for you, back soon.

Dawn R.

Well that's my understanding too Dawn, but I thought they were still allowed to charge something to cover their costs and maybe that is where the confusion is?

http://www.dti.gov.uk/ccp/consultpdf/pomcondoc.pdf

This is the government document, point 2.11 on page 11, is the bit you refer to.

Dawn R.

Thanks Dawn and I'm probably being very thick here :) but what does it all mean for us the punters? If I go back now for a prescription, without seeing the vet, are they allowed to charge me a fee for that each time I need repeat medication and if so, I don't see the difference between the old system and the current one.

Hi, they can of course charge you a consultation fee but should not charge specifically for the prescription. Whether you get charged for a repeat prescription depends upon whether your vet has to see the dog again before it is issued - upon which they will charge you anotehr consultation fee I'm afraid.

No, the vet doesn't need to see the dog each time as he is on long term medication (possibly for the rest of his life).  Each supply lasts about 3 weeks and the vet has said he doesn't need to see the dog for about 3 months.  So what's all this in the new rules about being allowed to charge for their expenses in writing a prescription - that's the bit I don't understand as to me, that's the same as charging a normal prescription charge!  As there doesn't seem to be any control on the amount that can be charged, surely this is still possibly preventing people from having a open choice when it comes to drug supply?  Wasn't this what the new rules were meant to stop?

As far as i am aware (and i can't quite understand it at all), vets are not allowed to charge for a repeat prescription, however they are allowed to charge for the time it takes to check and issue the prescription, which to me means that you still have to pay extra, its just given a different name. Daft!

Sounds a bit like when they fill in their bit on the insurance form.  My vet charges £7.50 for this.  It really makes me wild.

Thats terrible charging for filling out forms Mine don't, I know the insurance co. won't pay for any administration charge and I always fill in how much I'm claiming for before I hand it to the vet and I always get that amount, and the vets fax it off for me.

And the people who made the new rules didn't envisage this happening?????