Warrington, Cheshire, based mental health clinical software company Strand Technology has announced that it has acquired Prism Risk Management, a provider of risk management systems to the NHS.

The acquisition was completed earlier this month for an undisclosed sum. The deal should enable Strand to offer customers mental health care records systems with integrated risk management software.

According to Strand Technology the purchase of Prism Risk Management and its risk management software product will help open up new markets within the NHS, as well as opportunities in other health care environments across the UK and globally.

Strand’s key product is a care record software system, ‘CareNotes’, currently in use in a number of mental health sites within the NHS within the mental health care sector of the NHS. Strand says that it currently counts approximately 50 NHS customers, while the number for Prism is about 30.

David Hannam, sales director of Strand Technology, argued that the two products fitted well together and said work on integrating them together had already begun: “This is an extremely exciting time for us, and we believe NHS Trust’s across the country will benefit from the strides we are making with this technology.

He said: “The two software packages – CareNotes and Prism Risk Management System (PRMS) – will help many NHS Trusts save time, money and reduce the risk of costly litigation.”

The Prism risk management system (PRMS) is designed to help managers identify, avoid or minimise risks and is used in the clinical and business governance of an NHS Trust.

Key elements of the risk management system include: adverse event monitoring and management; complaints management; claims management; disclosure of documents; risk management and monitoring and a risk register.