• Milbourn Equine Vets Terms & Conditions

Thank you for entrusting the care and attention of your equine to Milbourn Equine Vets. This information details our Practice Terms and Conditions. Some aspects of the Terms and Conditions may not be relevant to you. Please ask for further explanation or clarification if required.

FEES

All fees and drug charges are subject to VAT at the current rate, unless specifically exempt. Fee levels are determined by expertise, time spent on a case, procedures, drugs, materials, consumables, etc. We provide a detailed invoice for every transaction that is made and we are happy to explain your invoice if required.

ZONE VISIT FEES:

All zone visits will incur a set fee providing full payment for services and treatment is made prior to the visit. If not paid on the day of the visit, then an increased zone visit fee will apply. Zone visits that are cancelled on the day of the visit will be charged a cancellation fee. No shows will also be charged a zone visit fee. Please note that we are unable to book zone visits for clients that have amounts outstanding on their accounts with us.

METHODS OF PAYMENT

We can accept the following methods of payment at our branches or to the vet on the day of the visit:

  • Cash
  • Credit/debit card (MasterCard, Visa, Delta*)
  • Cheque (with current Banker card at branches)
  • BACS – Lloyds Bank – Account No: 18722468 – Sort Code: 30-80-12

We also accept online payments (the details of which can be sent to you via email and SMS upon request).

ESTIMATES OF TREATMENT COSTS

We can provide a printed estimate as to the probable costs of a course of treatment. Please bear in mind that any estimate given can only be approximate – often an animal’s illness will not follow a conventional course.

CONSENT FORMS

Before performing certain tests or procedure(s) on your animal we will ask you to sign a consent form. This form is a record of an agreement made with us, for us to treat your animal and what is involved along with any likely consequences.

The authorising signatory may be that of an agent if the client is unavailable to sign (providing the client’s permission has been given). Any signatories must be over the age of 18. Along with authorising treatment the signature also gives agreement to pay for the treatment. Estimates can be given (see above). If you require a copy of your consent form please ask a team member.

Thank you for entrusting the care and attention of your equine to Milbourn Equine Vets. This information details our Practice Terms and Conditions. Some aspects of the Terms and Conditions may not be relevant to you. Please ask for further explanation or clarification if required.

MEDICATION

As a Veterinary practice we have an obligation to use Veterinary UK licensed medicines wherever possible. The dosage of all medications is carefully calculated and given in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines.

There are certain situations where the best treatment for your animal may require the use of medicines which do not hold an appropriate licence for the species concerned. In this case we might therefore recommend using such a medication ‘off licence’ but these will be prescribed in accordance with the cascade.

The cascade is a sequence that all Veterinary surgeons must follow when treating animals. For more information on the cascade please visit our website. Our use of off licence medications will be based upon our knowledge of the use in animals and an assessment of the risks and benefits involved. These medicines will only be used when they are indicated and deemed necessary and no licensed alternative Milbourn Equine Vets Terms and Conditions of Business exists.

You will be asked to sign an off-licence consent form to indicate your agreement to use the off-licence medication.

RETURNED MEDICINES POLICY

The British Veterinary Association Code of Practice on Medicines (2000) states: “Once stock has been dispensed, it should not be accepted back into the dispensary. No returned goods should be offered for resale because there may have been problems with storage conditions beyond the Veterinarian’s control.” This means that we are unable to refund the cost of medication when returned but will be happy to dispose of any unused medications on your behalf.

PRESCRIPTIONS

If your animal is on long term medication and you require a repeat prescription, we request that wherever possible you contact your local branch of Milbourn Equine at least 24 hours prior to collecting the medication or prescription.

This will enable the Veterinary surgeon to authorise the prescription medicines and for them to be prepared and made ready for collection. In some cases, it is necessary for us to order certain medication from our Veterinary wholesaler, in which case at least 24 hours’ notice is helpful.

You are able to make a medication request or order any supplies you may require through our online order form, by telephone, or by popping in to your local branch. Please remember that by law in order to comply with the RCVS legal requirements, it is necessary for us to re-examine your animal regularly before issuing further medication. This enables us to review your animal’s progress with you and make sure the treatment is effective. The time interval between these examinations will vary depending on the nature of the condition being treated and the medication prescribed. Please ask a member of our team for the current cost of a medication review. We apologise for any inconvenience this might cause, but the monitoring of any ongoing illness is essential for your animal’s best health. We will inform you if we need to examine your animal or if
we require a little more time to obtain the items required.

Written prescriptions for Prescription Only Medicines, Category V (POM-Vs) are available on request for animals under our care to enable you to obtain the medicines from another Veterinary surgeon or pharmacy. Please ask a member of our team for the current cost of a written prescription and any additional items. We do however advise a written prescription may not be appropriate either if the animal is being treated in the clinic or it will delay treatment in certain cases.

Please ask if you would like more information on the price of any of our medications.

SETTLEMENT TERMS

Payment is due prior to or on the day of your animal’s treatment. In the event exact treatment is unknown at the time of booking, our team request for payment to cover the cost of the visit and consultation.

Payment for medication, supplements and written prescriptions is due prior to or on the day of collection. We require all outstanding accounts to be settled prior to additional any treatment being carried out.

Failure to make full payment on your overdue account will result in your details being transferred on to an external debt collection agency after due notice to you, and further charges will be levied in respect of costs incurred in collecting the debt. We also reserve the right to charge interest at 3% per month for non-payment. Failure to pay may result in Milbourn Equine only providing first aid and pain relief under these circumstances. A letter giving 7 days notice to find another Veterinary Practice to take care of your animal may also be sent if we feel that the trust between the Veterinary Practice and client has broken down.

INABILITY TO PAY

If, for any reason, you are unable to settle your account as specified, please discuss the matter as soon as possible with a member of our team, so that we can try and help.

Please note that instalments or part-payments of any account may only be sanctioned with the express permission of the Equine Manager or Clinical Director of Milbourn Equine.

HORSE INSURANCE

Milbourn Equine strongly advises insuring your horse against illness, accidents and taking out third party cover. It will give you the peace of mind that if your animal requires medical attention the costs will be covered subject to the terms and conditions of the policy.

Please be aware that it is your responsibility to settle our account and then reclaim the fees from your Insurance Company. Direct claims can only be made following preauthorisation in advance from the company via the practice. A charge will be made for completing insurance and pre-authorisation forms. Please ask us for more details.

COMPLAINTS & STANDARDS

We endeavour to be an approachable caring service. We will provide the best care and attention possible for you and your animals. If any aspect of our service fails to meet your expectations, please contact our Equine Manager by email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or in writing at our Sevington address. A response to this will be sent within 7 days of receipt.

PRIVACY POLICY

This privacy policy explains what personal information we keep, what we do with it and the limited circumstances in which we may share your data with others.

This privacy policy may be updated occasionally. Please check it every so often to make sure you are aware of any changes. The privacy policy has been written to be clear and concise. It doesn’t provide every detail of our collection and use of personal data.

We would be happy to provide further information if you have any queries or concerns. If you would like further explanation, please contact us using the contact details below.

WHO ARE WE?

Milbourn Equine Vets is part of Linnaeus Group Limited. The address of our place of business is: Milbourn Equine Ashford Clinic, The Barn, Court Lodge, Church Road, Sevington, Ashford, Kent, TN24 0LD. You can contact us on 01233 500505.

WHAT INFORMATION IS COLLECTED FROM YOU?

We may collect and store your name, address, telephone number and email address. We also collect telephone recording data for incoming and outgoing calls (deleted after 30 days) and may collect CCTV data. In very limited circumstances we may collect
health information with your consent.

How information about you will be used We may use the information you supply to us in a number of ways:

  • To provide you and your animals with the products and services you purchase from us.
  • For statistical analysis.
  • For debt collection purposes.
  • To get feedback on the services we provide.
  • We may also use your information to send you reminders about products and services you have already purchased from us by SMS, email or post. Examples include reminders about when your horse is due for a vaccination or worming treatment.
  • Sending you newsletters and relevant promotions when you have requested these messages.
  • We may use health data you have supplied with consent in order to tailor the service we offer to your health needs.

WHO DO WE SHARE YOUR INFORMATION WITH?

We will not share your information with any third parties for their marketing purposes. We will not sell your data on to any third parties. Companies working on our behalf: In some situations, we use a third-party company to help provide some of our services (for example processing laboratory samples or sending reminder messages when your horse’s vaccinations are due.)

In these circumstances we will share only the data required to provide the service. We have contracts in place with these third parties that ensure your data is stored safely, will not be used for purposes other than fulfilling our contract with them and will not be retained by them for longer than is necessary.

We may also be required to share your information with insurance companies when processing insurance claims. This is necessary to allow you to claim on insurance policies giving 7 days notice to find another Veterinary Practice to take care of your animal may also be sent if we feel that the trust between the Veterinary Practice and client has broken down.

HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR INFORMATION?

We will keep your personal information for as long as you remain our customer. Once you cease to be our customer, we may keep your personal information for up to 8 years in order to maintain records according to rules that apply to us.

YOUR PREFERENCES:

If you would not like to receive reminders about products and services you have purchased from us (for example vaccination or worming treatments) you can opt out of these messages by contacting the practice by telephone or in writing at any time. We will not send you promotional material about other products and services we offer or our newsletters unless you have given your consent to receive these messages.  You can update your preferences at any time by contacting the practice by telephone or in writing at any time.

YOUR PERSONAL RIGHTS:

  • You have the right to request access to your personal information held by us. We will respond within one month and the information will be provided free of charge. Please do this by writing using the address below:Clinical Director, Milbourn Equine, The Barn, Court Lodge, Church Road, Sevington, Ashford, Kent, TN24 0LD
  • You have the right to ask us to stop using your personal data, restrict how we use or delete it. There may be legal or other reasons why we may need to keep using your data but please contact us if you think we should not be using it.
  • You also have the right to correct any personal information you believe is incorrect. Please let us know if you think this is the case.
  • You have the right to ask for your personal data to be transferred to another service provider in a useful format.

COMPLAINTS:

If you would like to complain about the way we have handled your data please contact us in person, by telephone or in writing by post to Clinical Director, Milbourn Equine, The Barn, Court Lodge, Church Road, Sevington, Ashford, Kent, TN24 0LD or by email to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

If, following your complaint, you are not happy with the outcome of our response, you are also entitled to complain to the independent regulatory authority, the ICO.

OWNERSHIP OF RECORDS

Case records including radiographs and similar documents are the property of the practice, and will normally be retained by the practice for a minimum period of 7 years. Copies with a full clinical history will be passed on request to any Veterinary Surgeon taking over the case.

REFERRALS AND SECOND OPINIONS

On some occasions it may be necessary to refer your animal to another Veterinary Surgeon. Milbourn Equine has visiting referral consultant and specialist Veterinary Surgeons for a variety of surgical, soft tissue and ophthalmology cases but occasionally we may need to refer to an outside referral Veterinary Practice.

This is normally only necessary if the condition requires specialist knowledge or facilities that are not available in the practice (for example MRI facilities) or colic surgery is required.

There will usually be a referral fee incurred for this. Second opinion appointments  can be requested either to see another Veterinary Surgeon within Milbourn Equine or to another Veterinary Practice. These are sometimes requested if a client wishes to confirm a diagnosis or obtain a different Veterinary opinion. In all cases we will on request provide a full clinical history to the requesting Veterinary Surgeon. We look forward to meeting you and your animals and if we can be of any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.

ASHFORD CLINIC
The Barn
Court Lodge
Church Road, Sevington
Ashford, Kent
TN24 0LD
T: 01233 500505
E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

CANTERBURY
Unit 1B Denne Hill Business Centre
Womenswold
Canterbury
Kent
CT4 6HD
T: 01227 200992
E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

HAWKHURST
Springfield
Cranbrook Road
Hawkhurst
Kent
TN18 5EE
T: 01580 752301
E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

RYE
Cinque Ports Square
Rye
East Sussex
TN31 7AN
T: 01797 208128
E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.