RCVS questions CMA governance comments
The RCVS says there has been 'continued misunderstanding' about its role.
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) has queried comments made by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) about industry governance.
The College, which regulates veterinary professionals across the sector, has challenged the CMA's findings on its governance structure and governance models proposed in the report.
In its response, published on 14 November, suggest there has been 'continued misunderstanding' by the CMA about its role in the sector. The RCVS says that the problems identified by the CMA relate to business, rather than the individual practitioners it is charged with regulating.
It has therefore questioned the rationale behind some of CMA's comments, stating that the CMA's proposals go beyond the recommendations it has proposed to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
It has, however, agreed with the CMA's recommendations for new legislation and supported suggestions of governance reform.
This includes calls for a new Veterinary Surgeons Act, a measure supported widely across the veterinary sector. The RCVS says this would give it the statutory powers to effectively regulate businesses as well as veterinary professionals.
It has also voiced its support for remedies which seek to address pricing and transparency issues, including proposals to develop its Find a Vet search tool.
However, the RCVS warns that some of the requirements, such as a price comparison tool, may be 'complex, costly and time-consuming' for it to implement. It calls for any new requirements to be proportionate and cost effective.
Linda Belton, RCVS president, said: “In addition to our formal response to the CMA’s remedies, we want to take the opportunity to ask that all veterinary businesses, in support of veterinary professionals being able to gain appropriately informed consent for the treatment of patients, are open, transparent and upfront with their clients about costs.
“We also encourage ‘contextualised care’ – this being veterinary care that acknowledges different ways to approach the diagnosis and treatment of an animal, depending on the circumstances of the individual animal and their owners, and the context in which the care is delivered.
“It is also essential that veterinary surgeons have autonomy in clinical judgement and decision-making, regardless of business structures or commercial pressures.”
Image © RCVS
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