ScriptSwitch

ScriptSwitch Limited was a software company that developed and supplied a realtime decision support tool to GP surgeries in the United Kingdom. Its primary product, ScriptSwitch, was sold predominantly to NHS primary care organisations who used it to provide GPs with locally authored information and advice at the point of prescribing. It could contain patient safety messages, drug switch recommendations and other information. As of April 2010, it was in use in more than 4,400 GP practices across 116 NHS Primary Care Organisations, which covered 27 million patients and was reported to have saved the NHS more than £20million per annum.

History

ScriptSwitch Limited began in early 2000 as a private partnership formed by Kelvin Acford, a retail pharmacist, with some University of Warwick students to explore the initial idea of a decision support tool for General Practitioners. After a successful incubation period of prototyping and refining the concept and expansion of the original team, the partners eventually formed a limited company in 2001 that was then known as AKM Software Limited. AKM Software Limited launched its first commercial product piloted in a number of GP practices in early 2003. To raise external capital, to expand operations and sales, and to provide a more focused direction, in mid-2003, a new company, ScriptSwitch Limited, absorbed all the assets of AKM Software Limited.

ScriptSwitch Limited raised its first round of investment from venture capital firm MidVen in mid-2003.

In early 2006 the company was acquired by ISIS Equity Partners.

In late 2009, ScriptSwitch Limited was acquired by UnitedHealth UK, a subsidiary of US healthcare giant UnitedHealth Group for a reported £50m.

Awards

ScriptSwitch Limited was awarded the Queen's Awards for Enterprise in the Innovation category in 2009.

External links

• [1] Optum UK - Official website.