Change in legislation re consultations.

[Catsfredwilma]

Hi, I hope someone can put my mind at rest with a current situation. I will try to keep it as brief as I can!
I have two cats, Fred and Wilma. Five years ago Fred developed an illness (lifelong) and needs to see a specialist once a year. This vet runs his own specialist centre in London but also comes to my vets once a month, where he sees clients. So we have been seeing him every year at our vets, where he does tests on Fred then tells us the general outlook (whether the disease has progressed, change in meds etc) and a detailed assessment is emailed to our primary vet.
A year ago Wilma developed the same illness (not a surprise as they are related) so we booked her in to see the specialist. At this point we were told that the laws had recently changed so although the specialist could see her and do the tests, he couldn’t give us the results personally. he would email them to our vet within a few days and our vet would phone us. They said this was due to a change in legislation, and as the specialist isn’t our primary vet, doesn’t offer us 24hour cover etc, they can’t give us a full consultation any more. But as Fred was already under their care then they could continue to give us a consultation with him.
So we ended up in a strange situation where we take two cats in, have tests done, but only hear on the day about one cat’s results and have to wait a few days for the other.
Anyway, I tried to book them again recently only to be told that actually they can’t give me the results for either following the tests now, but we can book into their London clinic where we can receive both results on the day. They said this is due to the difference in out patients/in patients and that the law allows them to give a consultation/results in this situation.
When I mentioned this to our vets, and the change in legislation, they knew nothing about it, nor did their practice manager.
Am I being conned?? Are they twisting a recommendation to suit their needs because they can’t be bothered to have a five minute conversation with me, and would prefer me to go to their clinic. (Which I would do but it would mean the cats have to endure a long stressful journey).
Or maybe the specialist’s hands are tied? And they absolutely are not allowed to give me the results on the day any more??
I have really lost faith in this specialist, I am paying four figures per cat per visit, they are with the specialist for half an hour and then I leave not knowing if the illness has developed, or whether it us good/bad news.
It’s a horrible feeling, thinking I am being taken advantage of. I just want the best for my cats.
Thank you for reading x

Well what is the legislation?
Ask them to point to it so you can read it yourself.

It makes sense.
Your vet is subcontracting to the specialist vet and your relationship is with your own vet.
Your own vet can look at the results holistically as he would have a better view of what else might be affecting thr cats, what other medicines they might be taking and what other conditions they have, and give you a more rounded output.

That seems very strange to me. When did this change allegedly take place?

I have seen various specialists and they have all given me the results on the day. The last time was September 2024. I'd have been mightily pissed off if I had travelled for four hours to see them and not be told what they'd discovered.

I currently see a specialist once a month. That's a different set up. He gets my local vets to do the tests and then discusses the results with me. But the local vets also tell me what they discovered.

I am a cat lover and I think you should really question yourself about whether the specialist is necessary. I struggle to think of a condition that requires this much evaluation. Surely your local vet can manage it on an ongoing basis.

To contrast - a human would be unlikely to get similar evaluation of a lifelong condition from the NHS.

Thank you for your reply. It doesn’t really work that way round though (if it did, I could understand the policy).
The specialist is the one who decides on the medication and any changes, he very much advises our vets on the prescription and his recommendations going forward. If there are any concerns/changes in the cats symptoms in between specialist appointments (regarding the disease) then we have to see the specialist, not our own vet.

Thanks for your reply. It is absolutely imperative that they have annual tests, that’s not a concern.
If a human has the equivalent disease they visit the consultant at the hospital at least every six months, for life. (My uncle has it).

The 24hr care bit is laid out in the 1966 veterinary surgeons act and has been the same since then.
I think you need to unpick this maybe the specialists role has changed in the practice so is only offering consults to existing clients, but not taking on new clients.

Thank you.
Yes they appear to have changed their policy, so new clients don’t get a consultation. That is their prerogative. I think they have lied about a change in legislation, to encourage us to travel to their own clinic.
It has made me lose complete confidence in them though ☹️