Why Irish practices are moving from Socrates to Brigid
Socrates serves many Irish GPs. Brigid is an early-access option for practices evaluating a modern, staff-controlled system; clinics should compare current functions, migration, contracts and production evidence directly.
Stop typing notes after clinic hours
Brigid provides raw EU dictation for clinician-authored SOAP notes and referral letter, and prescription summary before the patient has left the room.
Staff-controlled administration
Staff can review overdue invoices, waitlist openings and outstanding referral records in one work view. Messages remain staff-authored and every booking or send uses the normal confirmation controls.
Clinic-approved migration from Socrates
Import scope, mapping, representative records, permissions and rollback are rehearsed with the clinic. Production cutover happens only after the clinic accepts the migration evidence.
Feature Comparison
| Capabilities | BrigidEarly access | Socrates |
|---|---|---|
| Built for Ireland (PCRS/GMS) | ||
| EU-hosted records + GDPR privacy controls | ||
| VHI / Laya / Irish Life invoicing Staff prepare/review EUR invoices; automated insurer eligibility and submission are not launch-authorised. | Beta· Auto-submit disabled | |
| EU speech-to-text dictation Raw EU dictation supports clinician-authored notes; clinical Generative AI drafting is disabled. | ||
| Administrative assistance | Default-off | None |
| Multi-channel scheduling + recall Online booking, staff-authored reminders and a staff-controlled recall queue. Generative outreach and autonomous waitlist actions are disabled. | Beta· Automation disabled | |
| Self-serve data import | Clinic-approved | Paid / DIY |
| No card to request early access | ||
| Month-to-month Contract The signed order controls term, renewal and cancellation. | Per signed order | |
| Modern Cloud-Native UI Designed from the ground up for 2025, not retrofitted from 2005. |
Switching from Socrates — common questions
- How do I move my patient records from Socrates to Brigid?
- Import scope and mappings are agreed with the clinic. Representative patient, clinical and billing records, permissions and rollback are tested before the clinic signs the production cutover.
- Will Brigid handle my GMS list and PCRS claims the way Socrates does?
- Staff can prepare and review EUR invoices with configured codes. Automated PCRS/GMS filing and insurer eligibility or submission are not launch-authorised; clinics continue to use their normal claim channels.
- What does switching cost, and am I locked in?
- Published early-access prices start at €129 per month and requesting access does not require a card. The signed order must state the subscription term, renewal, cancellation, setup and enabled services before a clinic commits.
- Is it safe to let AI draft my clinical notes?
- The clinician authors and signs every SOAP note, referral and prescription summary. Brigid can provide raw EU speech-to-text dictation where the clinic has approved the processing; Generative clinical drafting is disabled for launch.
- Where does my patient data live if I leave Socrates for Brigid?
- Patient records at rest are hosted on AWS in Dublin. Brigid also provides privacy, access and audit controls; some disclosed voice and provider paths may involve international transfers. The import tool brings records, history and billing across for review before cutover.