Emis Group confident for the year despite a slower rate of NHS contract awards

The Leeds-based firm said it is benefiting from good revenue visibility, growing market share and good momentum in its order book.

It said it has expanded its cost reduction programme and this will boost its performance in the second half.

The board said its expectations for the full year remain unchanged. ​​

Emis chief executive Chris Spencer said: “While ongoing political and economic uncertainty causes both turbulence and sluggishness, nonetheless the NHS continues to understand that our digital technology and patient information platform represents a unique connected care solution to the challenge to deliver faster, better, more cost-effective care.

“We therefore remain confident in the outlook for the business.”

Steve Clayton, ​h​ead of ​e​quity ​research​ at​ Hargreaves Lansdown, said: “Technology is only going to play a bigger and bigger role in delivering the joined-up healthcare that the nation wants, at a cost that the Government is prepared to bear. With rising market shares in GP surgeries and community pharmacies, where Emis generates over 85 per cent of its profits, the outlook still looks very promising.

​“​The attractions of E​mis​ remain​ – ​strong market shares, generating repeat revenues from GP surgeries and pharmacies, with clients who rarely seem to churn away from the group once they adopt E​mis​​ software.​“

Mr Spencer said that planning for the roll-out of Emis Web in primary care for Northern Ireland is ongoing and engagement for the procurement in Scotland has begun. Meanwhile the group has increased its market share in child health, community and mental health markets.