EMIS Group plc, the UK's leading supplier of healthcare software to GPs and a major software supplier to high street pharmacists, announces a trading update for the year ended 31 December 2011.  The Group intends to issue its 2011 annual results on 16 March 2012.

Trading for the year was in line with management's expectations with recurring revenue continuing at over 80%.

In the second half of the year, a further 207 GP practices went live with EMIS Web. At the year end there were: 360 GP live practices and 147 extended primary care organisations using EMIS Web, 1565 orders for EMIS Web and 2359 practices in the EMIS Web Familiarisation Service

The Group continues to prepare for the accelerated roll-out of EMIS Web and, during the second half of 2011, the number of employees rose from 876 to 950. The Group also acquired an additional freehold property in North Leeds, at a cost of approximately £2 million in December 2011, providing the extra capacity to continue the Group's growth and support its investment plans.

The Group's UK market penetration remains strong with 53.1% of GP practices and with RX Systems, the Group's pharmacy system provider, continuing to grow its market share, principally through the ongoing roll-out of ProScript Link, and now serving 34.4% of high street pharmacies.

The Group continues to maintain a strong balance sheet with net cash of £7.8 million at 31 December 2011 (2010: net cash £1.7 million).

Sean Riddell, EMIS Group CEO, said: "EMIS Group continues to trade in line with management expectations, enabling healthcare professionals to use and share patient data in a secure, time efficient and cost-effective manner.

"Through EMIS Web, the Group is making significant progress towards delivery of the strategic vision of cross-organisational healthcare systems: a vision that remains completely aligned with NHS strategy for the future. RX Systems is increasing its market share and EMIS IQ and patient.co.uk are already addressing the growing demand for secure clinical information from the NHS and patients alike. 

"The outlook for the new financial year is positive and we remain confident of the Group's strategic positioning and growth prospects."

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