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Welcome to the veterinary client mediation service (vcms)

The Veterinary Client Mediation Service (VCMS) is a voluntary, independent and free complaint mediation service for clients whose animals have received veterinary care and for the veterinary professionals providing that care. Using the process of mediation, VCMS offer help and guidance to resolve complaints in a fair, cost efficient manner that is unbiased and non-judgemental. VCMS works with both parties to try and reach a solution that is acceptable to both the client and veterinary professional. The service is funded by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons which regulates all veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses practising within the UK.

All veterinary practices will have their own complaints procedures to deal with concerns raised by clients. Where a complaint cannot be resolved within the practice, the VCMS is here to provide impartial mediation to help find a way forward and try to find a resolution acceptable to both. We will obtain all details of the concern and mediate with both parties to assist in finding a resolution.

The service is provided by Nockolds, who specialises in complaint mediation in regulated professions. This means it is completely impartial and each complaint is considered in a fair, timely and efficient way so that the veterinary professional and client can move on.

Latest Articles

November 27th 2025

Vet Industry Complaints Fall -2.6% Year-On-Year, While Consumer Satisfaction, The Number of Mediations and Resolution Rates Hit 3-Year High

The Veterinary Client Mediation Service has published the annual report of activity and insight from 2024. Funded by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and free at the point of service for consumers, the VCMS…
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November 7th 2025

VCMS Quarterly Review

Veterinary complaint body sees a 5% increase in activity over Spring 2025, with an ongoing theme of communication and expectations around standards of care and a fall in purely cost related complaints referred to the…
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October 29th 2025

CMA Provisional Report: What it Means for Dispute Resolution in the Veterinary Sector

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Independent mediation for veterinary professionals and their clients