Software company secures €2.2m contract

A CORK micro-company which has created software aimed at helping stroke victims communicate better has secured a major contract with a British health authority.

Epic Solutions, a computer software design company based in Carrigtwohill, has won the e2.2 million contract for an innovative pilot project in Warwickshire.

The company, formed nine years ago, has 10 employees and is bucking the recession. It hopes to create 60 further jobs in the next three years as a result of its technological innovations.

If the project proves a success it is likely to be rolled out across the British National Health Service (NHS), providing Epic Solutions with a very rosy future.

Warwickshire County Council and the county’s NHS services will jointly manage the pilot project which the British Department of Health has called “Putting People First”.

Epic Solutions chief executive Richard O’Leary explained his company had developed software which will not only help stroke victims, but will also collate information on patients which can be accessed at the touch of a button.

Victims of severe strokes may lose the ability to speak and communicating what they want often becomes a difficult and frustrating task.

As their brains are still able to function reasonably well, they can communicate quite ably if provided with the necessary technology.

“We have developed hand-held computers with touch-screen interfaces which help the person explain what they are looking for,” Mr O’Leary said.

The interfaces point to a large number of requests, such as looking for lunch, a trip to the shops or even a simple cup of tea.

“We have undertaken a number of workshops with these devices for people who are caring for loved ones who have had strokes,” Mr O’Leary said.

Epic Solutions started developing this software in 2006.

It has already developed software used by a number of Irish charitable healthcare organisations dealing with patients who have mental heath problems or learning disabilities.

Mr O’Leary said a lot of work had gone into the Warwickshire project.

“Our dream is that all British NHS authorities will take it on. For a company like ours it’s a great opportunity.

“It shows how micro-companies can be successful. It will mean taking on more people, probably up to 60 in the next three years,” Mr O’Leary said.

“If a person has complex or long-term care and support needs there has been a frustration in patients repeating their story to different parts of the system, so each project includes how best to collect information once and share between their partners,” British minister for care services, Phil Hope, said.