Unnecessary vet visits cost £19m
March 30, 2007 by admin
Filed under News, News-Insurance
Up to 49 per cent of emergency trips to the vet are unnecessary and British businesses are losing out on £19 million as a result.
According to insurance firm More Than, 37 per cent of all pet owners in the UK have taken time of work to take their animal to the vet.
The majority lied to their employer about what they were doing, with 58 per cent taking annual leave, while many said that they were ill.
However, More Than has discovered that almost half of these cases did not require an emergency visit to the vet, costing a combined £118 million.
In response to this, the insurer is launching a new service which it says is based on the successful NHS Direct.
The service is called Vetfone and it is hoped it will save pet owners time, money and worry.
“Pets are an important part of the family so when a pet becomes ill, many people don’t hesitate to take time off from work to rush them to the vet,” said Mike Holliday-Williams from More Than.
“MORE TH>N’s Vetfone will provide worried pet owners with 24 hour access to a qualified veterinary nurse who can advise them on the best course of action.
“We anticipate that Vetfone will save pet owners valuable time and money in unnecessary vet visits, and it will enable vets to focus time on the serious cases that need their expert skills,” he added.
