MP Kanishka Narayan highlights rising vet costs in Barry, urging for better competition and affordable care for pet owners.
Barry: MP Kanishka Narayan says Barry has high vet costs. He believes a lack of competition is driving prices up. This limits choices for pet owners.
In Barry, big corporate groups dominate vet services. Only a few independent practices remain, like Barry’s Vets and Vale Veterinary Centre. These are among the last independent vet centers in South Wales.
Over the last ten years, independent vet practices dropped from 90% to 40%. Corporate ownership, mainly from private equity, now controls the market.
Mr. Narayan stated that Britain loves pets, and Barry is no exception. He believes caring for pets shouldn’t be too expensive. However, many pet owners struggle with high vet bills and limited options.
He is committed to lowering costs and ensuring pets receive proper care. He feels the current situation is unfair and calls for action.
Mr. Narayan has contacted the secretary of state for business and trade, Jonathan Reynolds. He wants to know what steps are being taken to improve competition in veterinary care.
He emphasized that no one should choose between their pet’s health and their finances. Many pet owners don’t know they can get prescriptions and medicines from other providers, which adds to their costs.
The ‘Pets Not Profits’ campaign seeks more transparency in vet pricing and ownership. It aims for fair competition and regulatory measures to stop corporate monopolies from taking advantage of pet owners.
“Barry deserves better,” Mr. Narayan said. He will keep pushing for reforms to protect pet owners and restore fairness in the veterinary sector.
Barry residents facing high vet costs are encouraged to share their experiences to support the campaign. For more information, contact kanishka.narayan.mp@parliament.uk.
