Thanks to this article I’ve now discovered that the local practice in my little town is not independent like I had assumed but one of many chains owned by IVC. I’ve recently had an interaction with them where I suspected they might be pushing for unnecessary procedures while also not being open about the costs. This certainly makes me even more suspicious of them.

I’ve found this site to be useful in my search for a new vet https://www.independentvets.co.uk/ run by the Federation of Independent Veterinary Practices.