January 25th 2022

In the News: Are Complaints Changing Post-Pandemic?

Article from Veterinary Practice magazine:

Insights from the Veterinary Client Mediation Service reveal that common issues leading to complaints post-pandemic involve dosage issues, client impatience and discrepancy between expectations and the “new normal”.

The complaint resolution work undertaken by the Veterinary Client Mediation Service (VCMS) provides a helicopter view of trends and shifts in the complaints received by veterinary practices from their clients. This insight is invested in helping to resolve complaints arising in individual practices, to share issues for reflection and to provide mediation-inspired guidance to help minimise and resolve complaints at the front line.

Throughout the pandemic, the VCMS team has continued to provide advice to practices where they needed it most. By analysing client feedback, it has been possible to gain and share a clearer and more nuanced understanding of the most common complaint circumstances which have emerged during the pandemic, lockdowns and other social measures that have deeply affected animal owners and practice teams. Keen to distribute their insights, the VCMS team has shared analysis and articles which outline the latest trends, supporting practices to remain resilient and adaptive in the face of “the new normal”.

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September 1st 2025

Veterinary Client Mediation Service Releases 2023-24 Insight Report

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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July 1st 2025

Your Summer Update from VCMS - Pet Owner Complaints in the Spotlight

It has been a busy year for the Veterinary Client Mediation Service (VCMS). We have been contributing to the ongoing Competition and Markets Authority investigation into the veterinary industry and responding to the latest Which?…
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May 30th 2025

Which? Research Shouldn’t Put Off Pet Owners Looking For Help With Their Vet Complaints

A spokesperson from the Veterinary Client Mediation Service (VCMS), the approved alternative dispute resolution service for pet owners and veterinary professionals, is reassuring pet owners and veterinary practices that they are in good hands with…
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