Vet practices: Long Communications https://long-communications.com/business-type/vets/ Independent phone and call-handling advice for vet practices, from someone who has designed contact centres for 25 years. I don't sell phone systems. en-GB What happens to your practice phones, alarm and card machine on 31 January 2027? https://long-communications.com/business-type/vets/articles/copper-switch-off/ https://long-communications.com/business-type/vets/articles/copper-switch-off/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Copper landlines stop on 31 January 2027. Phones are the easy part; alarms, card machines and back-up lines are where practices get caught out. What does a missed call cost a vet practice? https://long-communications.com/business-type/vets/articles/cost-of-a-missed-call/ https://long-communications.com/business-type/vets/articles/cost-of-a-missed-call/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT At £60 a consultation, three lost visits a day costs a practice around £47,500 a year, before emergencies or lost clients. Independent versus corporate: where small vet practices can still win https://long-communications.com/business-type/vets/articles/independent-vs-corporate/ https://long-communications.com/business-type/vets/articles/independent-vs-corporate/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Independents can't match the groups on scale. They can beat them on knowing their clients, and that starts with the phone. Part of a group? How to make the case to head office for better phones https://long-communications.com/business-type/vets/articles/making-the-case-to-head-office/ https://long-communications.com/business-type/vets/articles/making-the-case-to-head-office/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Head office chooses the systems, but the practice feels the pain. A short, evidence-based case is how practice managers get changes made. The 8:30 Monday problem: how many clients give up before you answer? https://long-communications.com/business-type/vets/articles/monday-morning-problem/ https://long-communications.com/business-type/vets/articles/monday-morning-problem/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Weekend worries all arrive at once on Monday morning. Callers who hear an engaged tone often ring the next practice. The out-of-hours hand-over: a rule, not just good service https://long-communications.com/business-type/vets/articles/out-of-hours-handover/ https://long-communications.com/business-type/vets/articles/out-of-hours-handover/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT When the practice closes, the phone becomes the only route to help. The Royal College requires clients to be given clear details. Does your phone know who's calling? Linking phones to RoboVet, Merlin, Provet and the rest https://long-communications.com/business-type/vets/articles/phones-and-practice-systems/ https://long-communications.com/business-type/vets/articles/phones-and-practice-systems/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT When the phone talks to the practice system, reception sees the pet's record before saying hello, and missed calls become call-back tasks. Your practice is about to be licensed: what reform means for reception https://long-communications.com/business-type/vets/articles/practice-licensing-reform/ https://long-communications.com/business-type/vets/articles/practice-licensing-reform/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Vet practices are set to be regulated as businesses. Reception and the phones are where much of that will be judged. The prescription changes: what they mean for your phones https://long-communications.com/business-type/vets/articles/prescription-changes/ https://long-communications.com/business-type/vets/articles/prescription-changes/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Capped fees, written prescriptions on request and published price lists are coming. Your phones will feel it first.