Company History

ScriptSwitch began life in 2001 following a chance conversation between a community pharmacist and a university IT undergraduate about how technology could be used to improve the quality and consistency of prescribing in primary care.

An extensive period of research and development followed, during which time the core commercial proposition of the product changed significantly in light of major restructuring within the NHS.

Over a three year period the product was shaped by working alongside GPs in a number of trial sites. This process identified important changes to the way in which the product should work before the product was finally installed for the first paying customer.

All of the development in the initial stages was carried out by a small team of newly qualified graduates but, as the business started to grow, more experienced professionals were required to provide specialised commercial and operational guidance to the organisation.

In 2002 Mike Washburn was appointed as the company’s managing director with responsibility for growing and developing the company, and in particular securing the further support of the company’s Venture Capital Partners, and the partial refinancing of the business through HSBC.

This restructuring led to a period of dramatic growth for the company, with ScriptSwitch doubling its turnover and customer base year-on-year since 2005-06.

This year the company is well placed to build upon its recent dramatic success, currently supplying a quarter of all PCOs in England and Wales with many more in advanced discussions.