Software roll-out helps to lift Emis’ annual revenues

The software, known as Emis Web, links healthcare professionals, from GPs to neurosurgeons, by allowing them to share patients’ cradle-to-grave medical records.

Mike O’Leary, non-executive chairman of the Leeds-based group, said: “We’ve got a very, very healthy outlook for the next decade. There’s a lot of stuff we can do which will add value to our customers, help the NHS to be more efficient and enable us to build our business to be more successful.”

While total revenues increased to £86.3m in 2012, from £73.2m the year before, recurring revenue was £69.4m, up from £61.1m. Pre-tax profits rose to £22.8m from £21.4m, while adjusted operating profit rose by 10 per cent to £22.8m. Reported operating profit climbed 12 per cent to £24.1m.

Peter Southby, financial director, said: “The revenue increase during the year has been driven largely by the roll-out of our new software, Emis Web. The roll-out moved from a controlled to accelerated status. That brings significant new revenue to us as it is a hosted solution so we host the data from those Emis Web practices, whereas historically practices would have had their own local servers hosting the data.”

By the year end, Emis said Emis Web was live in 1,635 GP practices, up from 360 in 2011, with 1,252 unfulfilled orders. Emis Group employs more than 1,200 people, after taking on an extra 250 during the year.

Mr Southby said: “There will be a net increase to the staff base this year but it won’t be at the same sort of pace that we scaled up in 2012, because that 2012 recruitment was all about putting the people and the processes in place to deliver the Web roll-out.”

Emis recently launched its Patient Access smartphone application through its health website Patient.co.uk. Emis claims it is the UK’s first GP appointment booking app, and it also allows patients to order repeat prescriptions, securely contact their practice and update personal details.

The group said that RX Systems, which serves pharmacies, continued to grow its user base to 4,595 community pharmacies, representing 34.8 per cent of the UK market.

The group’s proposed final dividend was 7.1p and it’s total dividend for the year was 14.2p, up 15 per cent on 2011.