FirstVet (www.firstvet.com) , today announces a partnership with LV= General Insurance (LV= GI) (www.lv.com), the UK’s most recommended insurer, which will enable pet insurance customers to access free on-demand video consultations with highly qualified, local veterinarians. Thanks to the partnership, LV= GI pet policyholders can video call UK-registered vets via the FirstVet app to check their pet’s symptoms, receive advice on treatment they can carry out at home, or find out if a referral to a local vet is required.
Once an LV= GI Pet customer has downloaded the FirstVet app and registered, they can then make use of the video appointment service as often as is required, without incurring FirstVet’s standard consultation costs of £20 – £30 per appointment.
LV= GI is FirstVet’s 25th insurance partner across all markets and its second in the United Kingdom – where the company launched earlier this year – following the announcement of its partnership with Bought By Many in August 2019.
Through these partnerships with insurance companies the FirstVet service is free-of-charge for millions of pet owners, and helps to address the issue of widespread veterinarian shortages. There are currently 150 veterinarians on the platform, with this number growing continually.
Founded in 2016 in Stockholm, Sweden, FirstVet has successfully increased efficiency within the veterinary industry by being the first independent point of contact for pet owners who are worried about their pet’s wellbeing. With a presence in five markets (the United Kingdom, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and its native Sweden), FirstVet has more than 210,000 registered users and has helped over 150,000 pets since launching in 2016. FirstVet delivers over 11,000 consultations every month across Scandinavia and the UK, and has an average customer rating of 4.9/5 from over 50,000 user reviews.
Certain common pet health issues can be treated in the comfort of the owner’s own home, meaning they only need to take their pet to the vet when absolutely necessary. LV= GI customers can save time, money and potential stress to their pet by using the free FirstVet service, with this alleviating the strain on the veterinary surgeries. When a referral to a local vet is needed, FirstVet provides detailed notes of the initial consultation to both the owner and the vet.
In November 2019, FirstVet announced it had raised €18.5 million, enabling the startup to expand its service globally in other markets, such as the United States, Germany, and France. In addition, FirstVet will continue to develop its product and introduce new features to improve the experience for pet owners and vets alike, such as new automation tools and integration with clinics’ existing systems.
David Prien, FirstVet CEO & co-founder, comments: “This partnership with LV= GI is further evidence of the strong momentum that we’re achieving in the United Kingdom, following on from our launch earlier this year, and our recent funding. LV= GI is one of the most prestigious insurance brands, and we are both passionate about ensuring the highest standards in the veterinary sector are upheld, with technology being used to increase efficiency and satisfaction levels. We remain dedicated to partnering with leading insurance companies in order to ensure our service is free for millions of customers.”
Lucy Broadbridge, LV= GI Pet Product Manager, said: “At LV= GI we’re always looking for ways to help our customers protect what they love, so we’re very excited to be able to work with FirstVet to provide this service to our Pet customers. With access to a vet from your smartphone or device, our pet customers will have peace of mind knowing that qualified veterinary advice is on hand 24/7, avoiding unnecessary time, cost and distress of visiting their vet if they don’t really need to.”
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