CMA appoints new veterinary advisory panel

The Competitions and Market Authority (CMA) has appointed a new advisory panel made up of two veterinary nurses and four surgeons to assist with the ongoing investigation in the veterinary sector.

In May 2024, the CMA confirmed its decision to launch a market investigation into veterinary services for household pets in the UK and published tips to help pet owners better navigate vet services.

In July, the CMA published an issues statement which set out the scope of the investigation and the areas being explored – including the information pet owners receive when deciding on treatment options or making purchases, competition between vet practices, the profitability of different types of vet practices, and the regulatory framework which underpins the sector.

The new advisory panel’s insight will help ensure the group is fully informed on day-to-day matters when it comes to make its decisions, including but not limited to:

• Operation of veterinary practices – including roles and relationships between veterinary professionals, other staff, and other related organisations.
• Interaction with pet owners – including how owners’ decisions might be informed in different treatment/service situations, communicating recommendations and potential costs, and how those in different professional roles within a vet practice may engage with customers.
• Clinical practice – such as possible treatment options for defined conditions or illnesses of household pets.
• Regulation – including the operation and application of regulations and regulatory bodies. 

Additionally, the inquiry group has so far conducted site visits to 20 different clinics to talk to veterinary professionals to understand their work. These ‘behind the scenes’ visits happened across the UK – in Belfast, Edinburgh, Swansea, and various locations across England – and included visits to ‘first opinion’ local vet practices, veterinary hospitals, referral centres and practices that provide out-of-hours care.

The group also held roundtable discussions with veterinary professionals at various stages of their careers, and representatives from animal charities. In-person roundtables were held in Edinburgh, Manchester, Swansea, and four virtual roundtables, to capture views on a variety of topics including the challenges faced by vets, how the sector has developed over the last 10 years, interactions with pet owners as well as costs and pricing. 

Lastly, CMA organised various ‘teach-in’ sessions to allow vets to share how the veterinary market works, their concerns about the investigation and how regulation is working. 

Martin Coleman, chair of the Inquiry Group, said: “We know our investigation really matters to pet owners who are worried about costs and vet professionals who want to provide good care, which is why we’re updating on how this work is unfolding. I’m pleased with the progress we have made so far; we’re on target to make our provisional decision by the middle of next year.

“This is far more than a paper exercise – hands-on site visits, teach-ins and roundtables are helping us build a true picture of how vet services operate day-to-day and where the challenges lie. Our new advisory panel – made up of practising vet nurses and surgeons – will also bring immeasurable experience to the process, all of which will help us make well-informed decisions and reach the right conclusions.”