Ideagen builds health IT portfolio

Ideagen has bought MSS Management Systems Services, supplier of emergency and unscheduled software care systems to a number of NHS trusts.

Dorset-based MSS supplies Patient First software to 10 acute trusts in England including Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust.

In January, Ideagen announced plans to build a reputation in information management within the UK healthcare sectors.

It bought electronic document management supplier Plumtree Group at the end of 2012.

The initial outlay for MSS is £589,000 with a further £50K deferred for 12 months. Up to a £540K may also be payable if certain revenue targets are achieved by the end of next May.

Ideagen chief executive David Hornsby said: "With total attendances at hospital A&E units in England having risen every year for the past eight years, medical organisations have voiced concern about what they believe is an unsustainable rise in attendances and admissions.

“Ideagen has identified that emergency care services need more robust systems to manage this increased workload. Patient First, together with our existing NHS information management software, will enable us to help deliver the transformation required."

Ideagen’s financial results for 2012/13 show a turnover increase of 62 per cent to £6.5m and operating profit up 70 per cent to £2m.