Vets: Saints or ****?

26-07-2018 02:24PM

Discodog wrote: »

If we follow the UK you could find that all of them are owned by the same company

We do have anti - competitive law that prevents any business taking over all players in any market.

But why are large players in any market seen necessarily as a bad thing? Do you ever use a chain supermarket or chain chemist?

Discodog · 26-07-2018 03:17PM

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

We do have anti - competitive law that prevents any business taking over all players in any market.

But why are large players in any market seen necessarily as a bad thing? Do you ever use a chain supermarket or chain chemist?

The chain supermarket or chemist have other chains as competitors. The Vet market doesn't.

26-07-2018 03:21PM

Discodog wrote: »

The chain supermarket or chemist have other chains as competitors. The Vet market doesn't.

Yes, they do. The article you linked to mentions seven chains in the UK. No single chain would be legally permitted to take a dominant share in the Irish market.

D3V!L · 26-07-2018 03:22PM

Ours is great. Couldn't fault them.

Discodog · 26-07-2018 03:30PM

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

Yes, they do. The article you linked to mentions seven chains in the UK. No single chain would be legally permitted to take a dominant share in the Irish market.

& as you know the price of most products is similar in all chains. We aren't going to get an Aldi/Lidl Vet.

Some years ago my Saluki tore her leg open at 8pm on a Saturday. I was new to the area & phoned the local Vet. I met him at the surgery, he anesthetised the dog, stitched her & I bought her home 30 mins later. Total bill €75.

Muahahaha · 26-07-2018 05:22PM

Wibbs wrote: »

I'd put the blame more at the feet of insurance companies and medical supply companies. Vet costs and bills have gone up a lot since the whole pet insurance thing came in. Such insurance almost always raises prices across the board, both to the supplier of a service/product and the consumer.

Could you elaborate on this Wibbs, Ive only become aware of pet insurance recently, have no ideas how much it costs or what exactly it covers, etc. Is it a case of vets increasing their fees because they know the insurance will pay out regardless?

r93kaey5p2izun · 26-07-2018 05:36PM

Fewer than 10% of pets are insured in Ireland. I don't think it's that significant a factor in costs. I think there's a fairly poor attitude towards animals in general in Ireland so I wouldn't see that changing.

Discodog · 26-07-2018 06:20PM

Gianluca Scarce Igloo wrote: »

Fewer than 10% of pets are insured in Ireland. I don't think it's that significant a factor in costs. I think there's a fairly poor attitude towards animals in general in Ireland so I wouldn't see that changing.

I suspect that it's a lot higher in some practices. I have also been told that some Vets fear litigation or accusations of bad practice so they perform lots of tests etc.

Basic costs, like consultation fees, haven't increased a lot but the overall bills have.

Over 60% are insured in the UK & the insurance costs are rising.

Discodog · 26-07-2018 06:26PM

Muahahaha wrote: »

Could you elaborate on this Wibbs, Ive only become aware of pet insurance recently, have no ideas how much it costs or what exactly it covers, etc. Is it a case of vets increasing their fees because they know the insurance will pay out regardless?

I am going to insure my pup. About €16 per month for €4000 cover with a €75 excess.

r93kaey5p2izun · 26-07-2018 06:41PM

Discodog wrote: »

I suspect that it's a lot higher in some practices. I have also been told that some Vets fear litigation or accusations of bad practice so they perform lots of tests etc.

Basic costs, like consultation fees, haven't increased a lot but the overall bills have.

Over 60% are insured in the UK & the insurance costs are rising.

Yes but Ireland and UK are poles apart when it comes to animal care and society's attitudes towards animals. Pet insurance has been common in the UK for a long time but has remained minimal here. I would agree though that it's likely to be a higher percentage in small animal practices in wealthy urban areas, but overall it's a very low percentage. I haven't found that vet costs have increased beyond inflation. I think insurance costs have increased a lot though.

26-07-2018 07:42PM

Discodog wrote: »

& as you know the price of most products is similar in all chains. We aren't going to get an Aldi/Lidl Vet.

You're far more likely to get an Aldi/Lidl vet from a chain (that can get economies of scale in purchasing and back office services) than from an individual vet practice. This is how Specsavers work in the optical sector.

Are you suggesting that all seven separate legal entities in the UK are illegally colluding in setting prices for services at an artificially high level? And if so, wouldn't this provide a great opportunity for the remaining individual practices to undercut them?

Discodog wrote: »

Some years ago my Saluki tore her leg open at 8pm on a Saturday. I was new to the area & phoned the local Vet. I met him at the surgery, he anesthetised the dog, stitched her & I bought her home 30 mins later. Total bill €75.

Are you telling this story as a good example or a bad example? I'm not quite sure what your message is.

Yes, there are some advantages to individual practices, and possibly some advantages to chains. I don't think there is any evidence to support a simplistic "chains = bad" approach.

RhubarbCrumble · 26-07-2018 08:53PM

My vet is brilliant, a real gentleman. I wish I could see myself instead of my current GP.

Vets: Saints or ****?

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