Written Prescription Terms & Conditions
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At The Ealing Vet, we are happy to provide you with a written prescription for your pet's chronic medication or parasite prevention, allowing you to buy the products online. Written prescription requests are signposted to and must be submitted via our written prescription request form. Please ensure that you have read through the information below before requesting a written prescription.
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Pricing, Payment and Processing Times
Written prescriptions are subject to a fee of £27 per prescription and must be paid for in advance. This fee is non-refundable.
We require a minimum of 2 working days to process and prepare your prescription. Please ensure that you allow plenty of time (ideally 2 weeks) to have your pet’s medication delivered; after our processing time, you must then allow additional time for the medication to be ordered and delivered by your chosen supplier.
Purpose and Design of Written Prescriptions
The way we issue written prescriptions is specifically designed so that prescriptions do not expire before the maximum legally permitted usage period. We aim to issue prescriptions for the highest quantity that is legally and clinically appropriate at the time of request.
If your pet is eligible for 6 months or less of medication, it may not be cost-effective to proceed with a written prescription. In these cases, it may be more appropriate and economical to purchase the medication directly from us. The written prescription fee remains non-refundable regardless of the quantity issued.
Long-Term Medications Only
Written prescriptions are only issued for long-term medications (defined as courses longer than two weeks). Pets starting new medications must have approval from the veterinary surgeon before a written prescription can be issued.
Your pet must have been examined by us within the last 3–6 months (depending on the medication type) in order for a written prescription to be supplied.
Medication Quantities
We aim to provide a written prescription for the maximum quantity legally possible at the time of issue. Under Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) guidelines, patients can be supplied with 3–6 months of medication between veterinary examinations performed in a consultation.
To obtain the maximum amount of medication, clients are strongly encouraged to request a written prescription at the time of consultation or shortly afterwards. Requests made several months after the last examination will result in a reduced quantity being issued, in line with our professional obligations.
Quantity Calculation Examples
1. Medications on a 6-Month Repeat
6 − (months since last exam) = allowance
Example:
• Last exam 4 months ago → 2 months’ supply
• Last exam 7 months ago → no allowance
2. Medications on a 3-Month Repeat
3 − (months since last exam) = allowance
Example:
• Last exam 1 month ago → 2 months’ supply
• Last exam 4 months ago → no allowance
3. Parasite Control
12 − (months since last exam) = allowance
Example:
• Last exam 4 months ago → 8 months’ supply
• Last exam 13 months ago → no allowance
Quantities issued are non-negotiable.
No Changes After Dispensing
Once a written prescription has been issued, no changes can be made to the medication or quantity. Please ensure all details on the request form are correct. If changes are required, a new prescription will be needed and a new prescription fee will apply.
Opening Hours & Contacting Us
We are open on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday. Please note that we are unable to respond to enquiries outside of our opening hours.
Contacting Human Pharmacies
We recommend avoiding human pharmacies for pet medications. However, if you choose to use a human pharmacy and require us to contact them to verify or discuss a prescription, a £25 administration fee will apply.
Expiry
Written prescriptions will either have a stated expiry date or will be valid for a maximum of 6 months from the date of issue, depending on the medication. It is the sole responsibility of the client to ensure the prescription is used within this timeframe. If a prescription expires unused, a new prescription and fee will be required.
Written Prescriptions for Parasite Control
Written prescriptions for parasite control can only be issued where there is an agreed parasite control plan with the veterinary surgeon. Prescriptions are issued for up to 12 months from the last examination date, subject to eligibility.
Puppies & Kittens
Written prescriptions are not issued for puppies and kittens until they are fully grown, as changes in body weight may result in incorrect dosing.