Maiden profits for EMIS as it wins more GPs

The Leeds-based group, which supplies software for medical professionals to computerise and share patients’ records, said revenues lifted eight per cent to £62.4m.

Pre-tax profits climbed to £16.1m in the 2010 from £14.5m a year earlier.

AIM-listed EMIS said its market share increased during the year thanks to winning over 398 GP practices in Scotland. Its software is now used by 53.8 per cent of GP sites, from 52.5 per cent a year earlier.

Chief executive Sean Riddell said: “2010 was a busy year for EMIS Group. In our core business we have achieved accreditation and started the controlled roll-out of EMIS Web, our transformational next generation healthcare IT system. Working with GPs and commissioning groups to fulfil the objectives described in the NHS White Paper, we are already seeing a high level of intent to upgrade.

“Of the first wave of 52 GP consortia announced, representing 22 per cent of England’s GP practices, 77 per cent are already EMIS users. These pathfinder organisations will shape the way that GP consortia operate in the future.

“We made the strategic acquisition of RX Systems, significantly increased our market share in Scotland, formed a joint venture to deliver wider interoperability through Healthcare Gateway, progressed existing and new extended primary care and community projects in Liverpool, London, Cumbria and Cheshire and extended our international reach into Australia.

“We remain focussed on cross-organisational healthcare and are confident that we can help healthcare professionals to deliver clinical benefit and improved efficiency through our software and services.”

Last year it launched its EMIS Web system, which allows medical professionals from neurosurgeons to midwives to share patients’ cradle-to-grave data. It believes Government changes to the NHS will boost demand for the system, and has so far installed it in 77 GP sites, with 247 to follow.

“EMIS Web is progressing as planned and the additional resources are being put in place in anticipation of a managed acceleration in the roll-out rate in the second half of the year,” said the group. “The intention remains to maximise deployment while minimising customer impact.”

The group also announced its chairman Tony Jones is standing down to be replaced by healthcare expert Michael O’Leary, the former chief executive of Marlborough Stirling and Huon Corporation.