The proposed changes would allow the PDSA to provide veterinary treatment "whether at free, at a reduced charge, or at full charge".

Charity Commission backs PDSA's decision to offer paid-for veterinary treatment

The Charity Commission has announced that it supports the PDSA's plans to charge for paid-for veterinary treatment.

In July 2014, the PDSA requested a scheme which would amend the objectives of the charity, as well as amending its power of investment and the provisions regarding the auditing of accounts.

The changes would allow the PDSA to provide veterinary treatment "whether at free, at a reduced charge, or at full charge".

Other changes to the objectives include "the advancement of animal welfare for the public benefit by any other means", and "the education of the public in matters concerning animal health and welfare in general".

Following objections to the scheme, the Charity Commission requested an independent review, which consisted of two members of the Commission's board and Stephen Roberts, head of litigation and legal policy.

The panel concluded that the impact of the proposed changes on the private veterinary sector, "was not considered to be significant".  It also noted that the proposed changes to the objects "would enable the charity to further its purposes more effectively".

A spokesperson for the PDSA said: "Our core activity will remain the provision of free veterinary treatment for pets belonging to owners that cannot afford the services of a private veterinary surgeon.   However, we want to be able to do more to educate owners on pet wellbeing and so decrease the level of preventable diseases treated every single day in our Pet Hospitals and across the UK .
 
"By expanding our charitable objects, we will be able to communicate our pet health messages to a much wider audience and thereby deliver a greater public benefit in terms of the advancement of animal welfare, as well as the relief of poverty.
 
"With expanded charitable objects, PDSA will seek to extend the delivery of its charitable benefits beyond its current eligible client group, providing a concessionary (reduced) charged-for veterinary service to additional segments of the pet-owning public, through its existing UK network of 51 Pet Hospitals, where we have the current physical capacity and infrastructure to do so."

In light of the panels decision, the Commission agreed that the draft scheme should be made and submitted to the Minister to be laid before parliament and, if appropriate, to be given effect to by order of the Minister.