PDSA

Changes to RSPCA public-facing veterinary services

Information for RSPCA clients affected by the recent announcement

What is happening?

From 9 December 2022, RSPCA will focus on treating more animals rescued from cruelty and neglect. As a result, RSPCA will stop providing subsidised public veterinary care at Merthyr Tydfil Animal Clinic and its hospitals in Greater Manchester and Birmingham.  

In response, PDSA will offer support to pet owners registered at the three RSPCA animal hospitals. We’ll be offering help to as many affected pets and owners as we can, either through our Pet Hospitals or through other forms of support for those who live too far away from a Pet Hospital.

How does this affect me?

From 9 December you will no longer be able to get vet care at RSPCA Merthyr Tydfil Clinic. Unfortunately, there isn’t a PDSA Pet Hospital available within your postcode area. However, we are working together with RSPCA to ensure no sick or injured pet is left to suffer, with a joint fund totalling £1 million to help towards treatment costs at local vet practices. 

This fund will be delivered through support schemes that will be accessed through local veterinary practices. You will need to be registered at a local vet practice that offers these schemes in order to access them.

What should I do?

Please fill in the contact form here to register your interest in receiving this support.

Register your interest

Alternatively you can call 0808 164 5040 or email petcare@pdsa.org.uk. If you have additional needs you can also contact PDSA by email through Sign Live or Relay UK. 

Please also register your pet at a local vet practice to ensure your pet can continue to receive any essential vet care. Find your local veterinary practice here.

We are working hard to put these schemes in place with local vet practices. Once you have completed the form above, we will contact you as soon as there is an update on which vet practices in your area will be offering PDSA support.  

Who is PDSA?

PDSA is the UK’s vet charity for pets in need. Currently, we operate 48 Pet Hospitals nationwide. We receive no government funding, so we rely entirely on our incredible supporters to help us care for sick and injured pets.

Read more about PDSA and what we do

Why is PDSA getting involved?

We believe no pet should suffer because their owner can’t afford the full cost of vet care and so it’s the right thing for us to offer our help to as many owners and pets affected by these changes as possible.

What support will you be offering? My pet has a lifelong condition; can I still get their medication?

We’re exploring several options with vet practices in your area to help with vet costs. These may include one or more of the following: 

  • PDSA Pet Care: A scheme that helps owners who are eligible for PDSA help but live outside our catchment areas to access reduced-cost vet care for their pets. 
  • Emergency Treatment Fund: Through a total £1million joint fund from PDSA and RSPCA, we aim to offer support towards the cost of unexpected vet costs through local vet practices. 
  • Chronic Care Vouchers: Through a total £1million joint fund from PDSA and RSPCA, we aim to cover the cost of ongoing treatment for pets who suffer from ‘chronic’ or life-long conditions. 

Please be aware that these schemes will operate through local vets in your area and we are working hard to provide these schemes once public RSPCA vet services end. Clients who complete the contact form above will be updated on what services become available in their area. 

How do I know if I am eligible for these schemes?

All currently registered RSPCA clients will be eligible to access support schemes that become available in their area. Please fill in the contact form on this page to be updated on when these support schemes become available in your area.

How is my personal information being used by PDSA?

As part of these changes to service, PDSA has entered into a formal data sharing agreement with RSPCA for the purpose of maintaining a charitable veterinary service for affected clients. This data sharing agreement only relates to registered clients at Birmingham, Greater Manchester and Merthyr Tydfil RSPCA Animal Hospitals. The information includes basic contact information and associated clinical histories of registered pets. Both PDSA and RSPCA have a legitimate interest in entering into this data sharing agreement.

RSPCA will be transferring your personal information and your pet’s clinical history to PDSA, to ensure we can continue to provide a high standard of care for you and your pets. For more information on how PDSA will use your data, please read our privacy policy or contact us directly.

I have more questions, who can I contact?

If you still have questions or concerns about what’s happening, you can contact the following: