Farm Gate Vets Terms and Conditions
General
Farm Gate Vets is owned and operated by Farm Gate Veterinary Services Limited. We are not part of a larger group. Please see the practice privacy policy for details of what personal information we collect about you and how we use it. Personal information is information about you. The data protection regulations apply only to humans, they do not apply to data about animals.
Payment
We accept payments by direct debit, cash, cheque and most credit cards
We require clients bringing small animals to the surgery to pay after each consultation or procedure.
When we visit your animal on the farm, at home we will normally invoice you for the work done either when we return to the surgery or at the end of the month. If you are a new client to us we may ask you to pay in advance based on an estimate of the expected cost. If the actual cost varies from the estimate then we will either refund or invoice you for the difference.
Settlement terms
Should an account not be settled by the end of the month, a reminder will be sent. If it is 60 days since the invoice was created, a 2.5% surcharge and an accounting fee may added in respect of administrative costs incurred.
After due notice to you, the client, overdue accounts will be referred to our Debt Collection Agency and further charges will be levied in respect of costs incurred in collecting the debt: such as production of reports, correspondence, court fees, attendance at court, phone calls etc.
Any cheque returned by our bank as unpaid, any credit card payment not honoured and any cash tendered that is found to be counterfeit, will result in the original account being restored to the original sum with further charges added in respect of bank charges and administrative costs, together with interest on the principal sum.
Inability to pay.
If, for any reason, you are unable to settle your account as specified, we ask you to discuss the matter as soon as possible with a member of staff. Please note that instalments or part payments of any account may only be sanctioned with the express permission of a Director or the Practice Manager.
Prescribing & Dispensing of Medicines
Veterinary medicines are divided in to four legal categories:
AVM-GSL Authorised veterinary medicine – general sales list. This may be sold by anyone. (Formerly GSL.)
NFA-VPS Non-food animal medicine – veterinarian, pharmacist, Suitably Qualified Person (SQP). A medicine for companion animals which must be supplied by a veterinarian, pharmacist or Suitably Qualified Person. (Formerly PML companion animal products and a few P products.)
POM-VPS Prescription-only medicine – veterinarian, pharmacist, Suitably Qualified Person (SQP). A medicine for food-producing animals (including horses), to be supplied only on veterinary prescription, which must be prescribed by a veterinarian, pharmacist or SQP (either orally or in writing) and which must be supplied by one of those groups of people in accordance with the prescription. (Formerly PML livestock products, MFSX products and a few P products.)
POM-V Prescription only medicine – veterinarian. A medicine, to be supplied only on veterinary prescription, which must be prescribed (either orally or in writing) by a veterinarian to animals under his care following a clinical assessment, and which may be supplied by a veterinarian or pharmacist in accordance with the prescription. (Formerly POM products and a few P products.)
At Farm Gate Vets Surgery, the supply of all medicines (except AVM-GSL) must be authorised by a veterinary surgeon and in the case of POM-VPS by the Practice SQP’s
In the case of POM-V medicines a clinical assessment of the animal will be required before the medicine can be prescribed.
Typically, for POM-V medicines, the clinical assessment must take place immediately before the prescribing of the medicine. In the case of patients taking a POM-V medicine on a long term basis and requiring a repeat prescription, the assessment must have taken place within the preceding 3 months. In the case of a healthy animal requiring a POM-V medicine as a routine preventative treatment (e.g. parasite control), the assessment must have taken place within the preceding 12 months.
Prescriptions
Written prescriptions are available on request. A prescription fee will apply for each medicine prescribed via a written prescription. Our current prescription fees are available on request.
A written prescription may not be appropriate if your animal is an in-patient or immediate treatment is necessary.
You will be informed, on request, of the price of any medicine that may be dispensed for your animal.
Please allow at least 24 hours between requesting a prescription or repeat supply of medication to allow time for a veterinary surgeon to review and authorise your request.
In-Patient Care
We try to send patients home whenever possible. We believe that most animals are happier in their familiar surroundings and most owners prefer to care for their animals at home whenever possible. We will only keep a patient at the surgery if treatment is required that cannot be given at home (e.g. on a drip or frequent injections of medication) or if moving the patient would cause a problem.
After our surgery closes, a Vet, Veterinary Nurse or suitably trained Nursing Assistant will check your pet as often as is deemed to be necessary by the Vet on duty. The frequency of checks will vary depending on the individual patients needs. A typical schedule would be for the patient to be checked when the surgery closes, again between 10pm and midnight and not again until the premises re-open at 8am. A veterinary surgeon is available on call should the Veterinary Nurse or suitably trained Nursing Assistant have any cause to be concerned about your pet's condition. At times other than for scheduled checks, the premises will not be manned unless the Vet is attending another patient, at which time additional checks will be performed.
At weekends and public holidays, routine checks will be performed every 4-6 hours during the day and as above overnight unless the individual patient has specific needs.
We will phone you on the number that you gave us on the admission form to report on your pet’s condition. Please do not phone us when the surgery is closed.
Please phone us on (01524 60006) between 9am and 10am on the next weekday or Saturday morning to find out if your pet is ready to be discharged that day and to make arrangements to collect him/her if applicable.
RETURNING MEDICATIONS.
We regret that the pharmacy regulations prevent us from taking back into stock any medications which have left the premises, so we are unable to grant a refund. No addition or variation of these conditions will bind the practice unless it is specifically agreed in writing and signed by the practice principal. No agent or person employed by or under contract with the practice has the authority to alter or vary these conditions in any way.
OWNERSHIP OF RADIOGRAPHS AND RECORDS.
Case records including X-rays and similar documents are legally the property of and have to be retained by Farm Gate Vets. Even though we make a charge for carrying out these investigations and interpreting the results, legal ownership of the resulting record, for example a radiograph, remains with the practice.
Copies with a summary of the history will be passed on request to another veterinary surgeon taking over the case.
PET HEALTH INSURANCE.
Farm Gate Vets strongly supports the principal of insuring your pet against unexpected illnesses or accidents. We have leaflets available advertising several insurance companies in the waiting room, but we are not permitted to specifically recommend any one company.
Please be aware that it is your responsibility to settle our account and then reclaim the fees from your insurance company.
The forms are complicated to complete, so we will make the claim on your behalf as soon as our fees are settled and we have been provided with a claim form, there will be a charge for completing the claim form.
Prostaglandin Use
As part of an oestrous synchronisation protocol we may occasionally leave an injection of prostaglandin on farm to be administered by a competent person named in the farm’s Herd Health Plan (HHP). All animals should have undergone an ultrasound examination prior to enrolment to determine if there is a viable conceptus, this technique is not 100% accurate. Do not administer to pregnant animals unless the objective is to terminate pregnancy. Listed below are guidelines on the safe use of prostaglandins on farm.
SAFE USE OF PROSTAGLANDIN PRODUCTS IN FOOD PRODUCING ANIMALS
- You must read and understand the packaging leaflet/data sheet.
- The handling of this product is restricted to the competent person named in the farm’s HHP.
- At all times the product will be stored in a nominated locked place and these rules will be displayed alongside the product.
- No other person will have access to the product or handle it.
- It will be only administered to animals which are my property in accordance with veterinary advice and the animals will have had an initial examination.
- I will record the date of injection and the identity of animals injected in accordance with veterinary medicine legislation.
- Supplies of the prostaglandin are only for animals under the care of my veterinarian.
- Empty containers or syringes of the product are to be disposed of in accordance with your farm assurance policy.
- I agree that I am satisfied how to handle, store, administer and record the use of this product. If I am unsure on the safe use of the product I must inform my veterinary surgeon prior to obtaining the product.
- Waterproof gloves must be worn when handling the product. Accidental spillage should be washed off immediately. In event of accidental injection or ingestion, medical advice will be sought immediately.
- I understand that contact with prostaglandin products by women of child-bearing age OR by asthmatics constitutes a potential hazard and is to be avoided.
- I understand that failure to comply with these instructions at any time would result in no further issue of product.
By agreeing to our terms and conditions you understand and accept the above guidelines on the safe use of Veterinary Prostaglandins.
Website Cookies
This website uses cookies to count how many people view each page and record what type of browser and screen they are using to view the site. This allows us to see what people are looking at on our site and helps us ensure that we provide the information that people wish to see. They also allow us to try to make sure that our site works well on the computer equipment that people are using.
We do not use cookies to track your activity across other websites nor do we collect any personal information about you.
By using our website, you consent to our use of cookies.
COMPLAINTS.
We hope that you never had recourse to complain about the standards of service received from Farm Gate Vets. However, if you feel that there is something you wish to complain about, please direct your comments in the first instance to a Director or the Practice Manager.
Privacy Notice
Farm Gate Vets is owned and operated by Farm Gate Veterinary Services Limited. We are not part of a larger group. This privacy policy explains what personal information we collect about you and how we use it. Personal information is information about you. The data protection regulations apply only to data about humans; they do not apply to data about animals.
This Privacy Notice may change from time to time.
What information do we collect about you?
When you register with us, we collect your name, address, contact telephone numbers and email address. We also create a record for each of your animals.
We record which products and services we have supplied, how much you have been charged and the method and value of payments that you make. We also record clinical notes relating to your animals and notes to help us manage your account.
Our website uses cookies to track the number of visitors to each page and how the visitors found our website. We do not collect any personally identifiable information from the website cookies.
How will we use the information about you?
We use your personal information to maintain a record of the products and services that we have supplied to you and manage your account including invoices, bills and payments.
To comply with our legal and regulatory obligations.
We will use your information to send you reminders for appointments, vaccinations and routine treatments due for your animals
If you agree, we will use your information to contact you with news, information, promotions and offers from our practice.
If you agree, we will use your information to contact you to receive your confirmation that we can respond to trade reference requests about you or your Company.
You can change your communication preferences at any time by contacting one of our receptionists.
On what basis do we use your personal information?
We use your personal information in order for us to perform our contractual obligations with you. (As set out in our terms and conditions)
To comply with our legal and regulatory obligations
To meet our legitimate interests ensuring you are aware of animal husbandry issues
How do we keep your Information safe?
We take a number of steps to protect the privacy and security of your information, for example we maintain separate physical, electronic, technical and procedural safeguards.
How long do we keep your personal information?
We will only keep your personal information as long as it is necessary to comply with applicable laws. In most cases this will be 6 years from the date an account is closed. After this time we will erase your personal information or archive your data so that it is beyond use.
Sharing your information.
We do not share your information with any other companies for marketing purposes.
We will send a copy of your records to another veterinary surgeon if we refer your animal or if you request that we do so.
We will share your information and your animal’s records with your insurance company (if applicable) to allow them to process your claim.
We will share your information with laboratories we use if we need to send any samples off for further investigation. The laboratories will not use your information for any other purpose than identifying the samples.
We will share your information with data analysis companies such as Interherd or Vetimpress in order to collate and process data to assist with herd and Flock Health Planning
We use communication tools provided by external companies to keep in touch with you. The external company will not use your information for any purpose other than sending you the message from us.
If you have outstanding debt with us, we may pass your information to an external debt collection company so that they can collect the balance due.
If we are required to do so by law enforcement or regulatory authorities.
Updating and accessing your information.
You can access and update your information and communication preferences by contacting a receptionist.
You have the right to ask us to correct your personal information on our records.
You have a right to request a copy of the information that we hold about you. You can request this in person, by phone or by email to info@farmgatevets.com
You have the right to ask us to remove your personal information from our records. If we do this, you will permanently lose access to all of your animal’s records. Once deleted, your information cannot be recovered.