Coventry Company up for National Award

Ref: HSJ Awards
Date: 9th October 2006

A Coventry company has become the first private business ever to be nominated for a prestigious health service award thanks to its efforts to save millions for the NHS.

ScriptSwitch, the UK’s leading supplier of ‘real time’ support software for prescribers, has been nominated in the Information Based Decision Making category of the high-profile Health Service Journal awards for its groundbreaking work with Darlington Primary Care Trust.

Developed in partnership with the NHS, the patented ScriptSwitch system has already saved the NHS more than £3 million this year thanks to its innovative, cost effective programme designed to make prescribing medicines easier.

The application offers clear and unbiased advice to prescribers, such as GPs and nurses, based on input from their Primary Care Organisation (PCO). The system is designed to help them make the best possible prescribing decision using the most relevant and accurate information available.

Mike Washburn, managing director of ScriptSwitch, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been nominated for the award, particularly as the first ever private company to be short-listed in this category. It is great recognition for all the hard work by everyone within the company in growing our business so successfully in the last couple of years.”

“With the national IT programme under considerable pressure to deliver, ScriptSwitch provides a real local technology win for the NHS by helping to improve care whilst at the same time saving money which can then be re-invested in improving other services. I believe it’s a real breakthrough for the NHS and shows how successfully public and private partnerships can work together in the health service.”

Research by the company suggests that the product can provide a cost benefit for an average practice in the UK of around £35,000 per annum – or a potential benefit in excess of £300 million to the wider NHS. So far more than 60 PCOs have signed up with ScriptSwitch, with many more in discussions with the company.

The HSJ Awards aim to celebrate and reward every aspect of healthcare management. Currently in their 25th year almost every relevant discipline is represented from IT to patient safety, and entries come in from all over the UK.

As well as ScriptSwitch the four other contenders for the ‘Information Based Decision Making’ Award are: Bolton Hospitals Trust, Bradford & Airedales PCTs, Croydon PCT and South Hams & West Devon PCT. The Awards ceremony will take place at the Grosvenor House hotel in London on 30th November 2006.

-ENDS-

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