Emis Group’s Patient site sees millions more sign up

The Leeds-based group has signed up 17 million unique monthly visitors, up from 11 million a year ago.

Emis said Patient helps people to manage their own care by using clinically reviewed health and well-being information.

Popular areas include advice on irritable bowel syndrome, sleep problems, weight loss, depression, migraine and diabetes.

​Emis CEO ​Chris Spencer said:​ “We expect Patient to contribute more in 2015 with revenue of £1.25m to £1.5m this year. Its popularity is being driven by patient engagement.”

Later this year the site will launch a new service that gives users access to their medical records.

This will help enormously when it comes to repeat prescriptions as people can use their laptop or mobile to re-order their medication and this can be passed straight to the pharmacist.

“It’s all about faster, cheaper, better care,” said Mr Spencer.

The website’s popularity helped boost Emis’s turnover and profits in the year to December 31.

Turnover rose 30 per cent to £137.6m and adjusted operating profits jumped 25 per cent to £32.6m.

Another new development for this year will be Apple’s new iOS 8 built-in health app.

This can store information about people’s blood pressure, heartbeat, weight or how many steps they have taken.

“You can upload into Patient.co.uk and then that information will be available to you and it can be made available to your GP if they need to check on your blood pressure for example,” said Mr Spencer.

Emis said that all political parties are backing its systems so it isn’t worried which party wins the general election.

“All parties are saying there’s a problem with the NHS.

“It hasn’t got enough money and people are living longer,” said Mr Spencer.

“All parties agree IT is the solution.

“There is ongoing, all-party, acceptance that integrated care is a key part of the solution to the social, demographic and financial challenges of the NHS.”

He said that this, supported by strong revenue visibility across all parts of the expanded group and a robust order book and contract pipeline, gives the board “considerable confidence in further sustained growth”.

The group said it continues to trade well and in line with the board’s expectations.