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| Share Name | Share Symbol | Market | Stock Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patientline | PTL | London | Ordinary Share |
| Price Change | Price Change % | Share Price | Last Trade
|
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.00 | 0.00% | 0.50 | 01:00:00 |
| Open Price | Low Price | High Price | Close Price | Previous Close |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.50 |
| Top Posts |
|---|
Posted at 26/7/2008 13:57 by forallseasons and the fact that mobile phones are now again gradually been allowed to be used in hospitals.and the fact the you can now buy for around £80-00 to £100-00 mini tft tv's that even gets freeview channels. so what's left for PTL to make money on ? |
Posted at 26/7/2008 12:53 by kenmill As a brief investor some time ago at well over £1, I would remind everyone that PTL's demise is not really their fault. The whole premise in the early days was that the equipment would be used for NHS medical records so that consultants, doctors etc, when going round a ward, could access individual patient's records on the machines. The figures never stacked up for the millions of pounds spent on equipment if it was only ever going to be used for tele phone/vision. The NHS did what most government run orgaisations do - they screwed up the implementation of a large computer software package which never worked. A few private hospitals used the PTL equipment for this purpose but it was never rolled out. From that moment, PTL was doomed. I am just surprised it lasted so long. A painful experience for everyone involved. |
Posted at 25/7/2008 21:20 by praipus The people who most need this service are people like you and me but at a very unfortunate part of their tax paying life. I.e.elderly infirm, terminally or seriously ill. No sign of the government bailing PTL out.Watch where the directors go because I cant help thinking they could have done a bit more a bit sooner realy poor show IMHO. A group of wealthy types with money in Northern Rock bailed out no trouble. You can see why the Scot's voted against one of their own, I personally would not vote for a Labour government again. |
Posted at 25/7/2008 20:59 by momentos Tim sherwood in grinning "trust me" mode for PTL customers and staff:And in serious I'm-an-accountant-me mode for Redstone: Never rated him after he left Blackburn myself.... |
Posted at 25/7/2008 12:14 by jockblue nmf777 - this is all with the benefit of hindsight though - at the time the contracts were signed and the kit rolled out, mobiles were definately thought to cause problems to hospital equipment, and hence there was a clear openign for alternatives to the payphone/rusty old telly. This is in much the same way as mobiles are still not acceptable in planes (although that will probably change) or on petrol forecourts today.The mistake was clearly the form of funding, in which the government should have been forced to fund some of the rollout upfront. PTL had no money to make changes, improve the service or make significant inroads into helping its financing. However, once again, the call charges initially were not vastly different to mobile call charges at the time - 40p per minute was a fairly standard charge not many years ago.... Since then, PTL was up against it - rollouts didn't happen, wards were closed, a smear campaign by the Daily Hate, together with general incompetance from all concerned. A sorry tale, and one that all who had some interest in should learn from. I learned never to invest in companies that rely on government contracts - the odds are continually stacked against them. PTL has been my biggest investing mistake to date, and I was lucky to exit a couple of years or so back at 9p. |
Posted at 25/7/2008 11:53 by nmf777 no, mobile phones are the way forward. there is no problem with mobiles except for a few special situations. PTL know this, the hospitals know it and give tacit approval for their use in nearly all hospital environments. PTL were seeking to exploit the fact that there is nervousness about this in some quarters however. ultimately this was only ever going one way. |
Posted at 13/3/2008 18:53 by marben100 Can someone tell me what the fundamental problem is with PTL's business?IMO the problems have been as follows: 1. It has cost more to run the service than had been expected originally 2. When PTL's service was originally planned, mobile phones were a) not as widespread; and b) much more expensive than they are now. It was not expected that they would be widely used in hospitals. You probably remember the awful phone & TV service that was available in hospitals before PTL's kit came along. 3. PTL has had a terrible press with accusations of a "rip-off" service, as mobile phone services have become much cheaper and widely available and (reasonable) doubt has been cast on the validity of bans on mobiles being enforced in hospitals. How they can be accused of "ripping off" customers, when they have never made a profit is beyond me. 4. As a result of 2 and 3 usage of PTL's units & service by patients and relatives has been steadily falling, resulting in falling revenues per unit. 5. To cap it all, PTL installed their kit in many wards which hospitals then decided to close, due to funding shortages, resulting in the expensive kit lying idle. Moreover, I understand that they were originally promised that they would get additional revenues from use of their kit within the new planned NHS IT infrastructure. This never materialised. 6. In order to finance the purchase and installation of a lot of kit and infrastructure, PTL has large borrowings and their net revenues now barely cover the interest on those borrowings, let alone repayment of capital. It appears that the banks are about to foreclose and run the business down to recoup as much as they can from remaining revenues, without making any further investment. 7. The final nail in the coffin is that much of PTL's kit is, IMO, now obsolete based on very old technology. An object lesson in investment. HTH, Mark |
Posted at 28/11/2007 17:06 by palwing momentos.. agreed. When the kit dies, PTL does too. However, as long as the banks can see their payments coming in, then PTL will drag along. Could be flat for some time unless something magical happens. I tend to agree with willoicc, PTL need to reduce their call charges to generate interest in using their services. They might loose some income initially, but slowly people will realise (with good PR) that it's economic to use PTL phones instead of their mobiles. Turnover would increase in my view and maybe buy PTL time to sort out the next step. |
Posted at 28/11/2007 10:20 by marben100 So, people would like to go back to the days of a shared TV in a dilapidated day room? Bye-bye to internet access and any other bedside entertainment.When PTL started, mobile phones were not universal and certainly not allowed in hospitals. The ban dated from before PTL started, so cannot be blamed on them as some have tried to do. Patients could only get ANY telephone access via a shared (and expensive) phone on a trolley to call out (or a payphone in a corridor, if well enough to get there). As for calling in to speak to a relative: forget it. The reason I bought PTL shares a long time ago (long since sold) was that I could see the great benefits their technology could bring - and at zero costs to the NHS. This was after visiting a relative in one of the very first hospitals their kit was installed in & witnessing the benefits it brings. It is nonsense to say that PTL was exploiting the sick and vulnerable. It delivered a much needed service: someone has to pay for it. It never actually made a profit - though obviously the aim was to make a reasonable one, considering the benefits delivered. In the years since then, the situation has changed wrt telephones, but if the plug is pulled on PTL altogether (which now seems bound to happen eventually as the kit detriorates), patients will lose a decent TV service and any internet access. I know what I'd prefer for myself and my relatives, if unfortunate enough to be in hospital. |
Posted at 28/11/2007 10:08 by palwing I used to work in hospitals in the mid 70's when there was a TV room for patients, etc at the end of most Wards. However, the rules changed and the NHS decided to stop this, for all sorts of odd reasons. Patients then started to bring in their own portable TV's/Radios etc. This was also stamped on due to electrical saftey and fire risks. So, that left patients with no entertainment at all.PTL filled the gap. Unfortunately they were either greedy or didn't realise public opinion would be so strongly against them. I think if they had carried out a better PR job explaining they were providing a service the NHS etc wouldn't or couldn't provide, then PTL might be in a better situation than they are now. People understand that a business has to make money in order to survive and grow. However, no one likes to see sick people ripped off in hospitals. PTL got their figures and PR wrong IMHO. Anyone considered what what patients will do if PTL do go under? Phone calls won't be a problem as they will use mobiles. However, TV? Internet? E-mails? I wonder if the same people who criticise PTL now, will then turn their anger at the NHS or Government for not providing facilities for their poorly friends and relatives? I would not be surprised if the NHS or Government get involved in providing Internet/TV facilities, it will be a lot more expensive than what's on offer now. Ever spent time in a hospital bed? Boring as hell. Meal times and bed pans are the only highlight of the day!! |
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