Who cares?

A blunt title, but one which encapsulates something I’ve found recently when talking to vets and practice managers about their business.

Most vets don't choose the profession because it's the highest-paid career open to them. Research published in the British Veterinary Association's Veterinary Record found that veterinarians are primarily motivated by an intrinsic passion for caring for animals and solving complex clinical problems, rather than external rewards such as salary.

Let’s face it, you would be hard pressed to find a vet who would say they got into that job to get rich!

On the contrary, the RCVS’s 2024 Survey of the Veterinary Professions, they found that over a third cited low pay as a reason for intending to leave the profession.

This isn’t just about an individual’s income though; the profitability of an independent veterinary practice itself cannot be assumed. In fact, in the Joint response to the Competition and Markets Authority approach to profitability and financial analysis working paper, it was highlighted that “Profitability per se is not necessarily a primary driver for many veterinary businesses and the level of financial tracking is often limited to turnover and money in the bank.”

There is the problem in a nutshell, and where I’m getting at with my ‘Who cares?’ headline.

Those working in, and running veterinary practices work long, stressful hours, under an immense amount of pressure and we at Roslyns Veterinary were shocked when chatting to vets and practice managers from across the UK at the last BVA show in Birmingham.

The lack of support for the practice as a business, was shocking.

You’ll have to forgive me for injecting a bit of what might look a bit ‘salesy’ here, but Roslyns Veterinary provide:

·         Monthly management accounts

·         All tax returns (including for Ltd companies at no extra charge)

·         All payroll and pensions work

·         Self-assessments

·         And the support not just from our accounts, tax and payroll teams, but a dedicated Business Development Manager who is on the end of the phone whenever needed and will come to sit down with our clients regularly throughout the year.

·         All at a low, and all-inclusive price (select link for an instant quote. No pushy sales, just an honest quote).

Now, I know this blog sound like an advert now, but bear with me. Should this not be what a practice should expect?

Regular information on how the business is doing, with support and guidance throughout?

If a veterinary practice is caring for the nation’s animals from our pets to our farm animals … who is caring for them?

So, in a nutshell, if you’re feeling uncared for in your practice, get in touch.

Let’s sort that out today.