ScriptSwitch Limited
Encyclopedia
ScriptSwitch Limited, now part of UnitedHealth UK, is a software company that develops and supplies a realtime decision support tool to GP surgeries
in the United Kingdom. Its primary product, ScriptSwitch, is sold predominantly to NHS Primary Care Organisations
who use it to provide GPs
with locally authored information and advice at the point of prescribing which can contain patient safety messages, drug switch recommendations and other information. As of April 2010, it is in use in more than 4,400GP practices across 116 NHS Primary Care Organisations which covers 27 million patients and is reported to save the NHS more than £20million per anum.
ScriptSwitch Limited raised its first round of investment from venture capital firm MidVen in mid 2003 and in early 2006 was acquired by ISIS Equity Partners.
General practitioner
A general practitioner is a medical practitioner who treats acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health education for all ages and both sexes. They have particular skills in treating people with multiple health issues and comorbidities...
in the United Kingdom. Its primary product, ScriptSwitch, is sold predominantly to NHS Primary Care Organisations
NHS Primary Care Trust
An NHS primary care trust is a type of NHS trust, part of the National Health Service in England. PCTs commission primary, community and secondary care from providers. Until 31 may2011 they also provided community services directly. Collectively PCT are responsible for spending around 80% of the...
who use it to provide GPs
General practitioner
A general practitioner is a medical practitioner who treats acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health education for all ages and both sexes. They have particular skills in treating people with multiple health issues and comorbidities...
with locally authored information and advice at the point of prescribing which can contain patient safety messages, drug switch recommendations and other information. As of April 2010, it is in use in more than 4,400GP practices across 116 NHS Primary Care Organisations which covers 27 million patients and is reported to save the NHS more than £20million per anum.
History of the company
ScriptSwitch Limited began life in early 2000 as a private partnership formed by Kelvin Acford, a retail pharmacist, Matthew Berryman and Andrew Bodsworth both 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 that was then known as AKM Software Limited in 2001. AKM Software Limited's first real success came in early 2003 when it launched its first commercial product that was piloted in a number of GP practices. In order to raise external capital, expand operations and sales and provide a more focused direction, in mid 2003, a new company was created named ScriptSwitch Limited which absorbed all the assets of AKM Software Limited and has been trading under this name since.ScriptSwitch Limited raised its first round of investment from venture capital firm MidVen in mid 2003 and in early 2006 was acquired by ISIS Equity Partners.
Recent history
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 prestigious Queen's Awards for EnterpriseQueen's Awards for EnterpriseThe Queen's Awards for Enterprise is an awards programme for British businesses and other organizations who excel at international trade, innovation or sustainable development. They are the highest official UK awards for British businesses...
in the Innovation category in 2009. This award is held by the company for 5 years.