Fees

Pet insurance

People tend to think it’s only older pets that get ill and therefore younger pets don’t need pet insurance
but we know from the patients we see each day that that is not the case.
In fact, the younger your pet is when you insure them the better as it means you are less likely to have
any existing conditions, which may not be covered by the policy and you can then receive more help
covering the cost of any future treatment your pet needs.
It is important to note that not all pet insurance is the same. There are many different types of policy
available and the level of cover provided can vary considerably. The four main types of policy are as
follows:

Accident:

provides cover for accidents only and no cover for illness

Time-Limited:

provides cover for a set amount of time (usually 12 months) and after this period
the condition is excluded

Maximum Benefit:

provides cover up to a maximum amount of money per condition and once
this limit is reached the condition is excluded

Lifetime:

provides a set amount of money each year which is refreshed each time you renew
your policy allowing you to continue to claim for ongoing conditionsprovides cover for accidents
only and no cover for illness

As you can see from the information above, the type of policy you choose can have implications for the
veterinary care of your pet and the costs you will face so it’s important to choose the right cover.
Sometimes, the cheapest insurance can cost you more in the long run. When shopping around for a
policy, we suggest that you ask the following questions to allow you to compare the overall value you are
getting, not just the price:

1. Does this policy cover congenital, hereditary, hip-related, dental and behavioral conditions?
2. Is there a time or monetary limit on how long this policy will cover ongoing conditions for?
3. If I claim, will my premium increase?

Unlike other forms of insurance it is not easy to switch pet insurance in the future as any pre-existing
conditions your pet has are likely to be excluded so it’s important to do your research and choose the
right cover from the start.

Welcome to Withy Grove Veterinary Clinic and thank you for choosing our practice, we value every client and pet. There are a few things we have to inform new clients of;

 Our Way of Working – Terms and Conditions of Business

Fees

All fees are payable at the time of consultation, upon collection of medicines, food or other goods, or upon discharge of your pet after hospitalisation, and are subject to the prevailing rate of VAT.

Please note there is usually a consultation fee to pay each time you see a veterinary surgeon

 Invoices

A detailed invoice should always be provided.

 Methods of Payment

We accept Cash, Credit or Debit cards. We do not accept American Express or cheques.

 Pet Health Insurance

We strongly advise Pet Health Insurance, ask any member of staff for details. We do not do direct claims, you are expected to pay in full for any work done and then claim it back from the insurance company.

 Estimates

We will always provide written or verbal estimates for work to be done if you ask. Please remember, it will only be an estimate but we will try and keep you informed if we exceed it.

Settlement Terms

Late payment of an account will incur surcharges and, after due notice, you may be sent to our Debt Collector which will incur further charges in respect of costs of production of reports, court fees, phone calls etc.

Inability to Pay

If you are unable to pay our fees please let us know BEFORE your pet has any treatment.

Data Protection

We store your details securely and will not pass them on to another party without your consent.

Clinical Records

We will provide you with a copy (not originals) of your relevant clinical records if you request them.

Prescriptions

Prescriptions are available from this practice.

You may obtain Prescription Only Medicines, Category V, (POM-Vs) from your veterinary surgeon or ask for a prescription and obtain these medicines from another veterinary surgeon or a pharmacy.

We need 24 hours notice to supply a written prescription. Prescriptions will not be written during a consultation as time is not provided for this.

Your veterinary surgeon may prescribe POM Vs only for animals under his or her care.

A prescription may not be appropriate if your animal is an in-patient or immediate treatment is necessary.

You will be informed, on request, of the price of any medicine that may be prescribed for your animal.

The general policy of this practice is to re-assess an animal requiring repeat prescriptions every 3 months, but this may vary with individual circumstances. There is a standard charge for this re-examination. (Please ask for the current fee)

Further information on the prices of medicines is available on request.

Complaints Procedure

We hope you never have cause to feel dissatisfied with our practice, but occasionally things may go wrong. In the first instance please telephone or e mail  Barbara (Practice Manager) or Michael (Owner) and we will do our best to sort out any problems.

Finally, if you have any questions, comments or concerns please talk to any member of staff.