Patientline Share Discussion Threads

[jaywood] 03/5/2007 13:18

Anyone found this website mentioned yet.

There is one by that name but it is an official and worthwhile website in America, not a PTL whinge.

[jockblue] 03/5/2007 13:15

Makes you wonder that the people who complain are the same ones who would think nothing of spending £1 to text to a competition on TV over and over again....if PTL had any alternative, they should remove the equipment from selected hospitals and let the patients association complain about the 30 year old telly and the payphone in the restroom that was all hospitals had up to 5 years ago....

[debaleb] 02/5/2007 20:36

I also needs to be remembered that whilst in hospital people are being fed for free and won't be incurring day to day bills for themselves, a few quid to watch a telly is hardly a rip off, i'd personaly be willing to pay much more.

[debaleb] 02/5/2007 20:33

lols! This chap needs to look at the balance sheet, little wonder the Country is in such a mess when people like this are attempting to run it. Whats also forgotten is no one is forced to pay the money, if you don't use it you don't pay, day rooms etc still have free tv.

Liberal Democrat health spokesman Norman Lamb added: 'This company has no shame. Such an extraordinary rise in prices for elderly people suggests profiteering.

[jonc] 02/5/2007 20:12

Can you imagine the cost if the NHS had procured and installed the same equipment.

[dynamo_joe] 02/5/2007 19:16

I can't stand articles like that.
Perspectives like that. It's mindless. And cheap. And sensationalist.
It's always the case when people have wigglespace to get wound up about a topic with some emotionally motivated argument. And these attitudes cost the country billions. This is why we have such inefficient public sector services in this country.
Unfortunately, life's not fair. And stuff costs money.

[jonc] 02/5/2007 11:13

BTW,

£2.90 is the amount that telecall charges OAPs.

[jonc] 02/5/2007 11:12

No wonder PTL could not make any money with all these concessions!!

[jaywood] 02/5/2007 09:45

dynamo_joe,

Don't you think there's enough half covered bodies in hospital!
- this is why photo phones are a liabilty there.

[devbod] 30/4/2007 16:56

Porn might be a step too far but current release movies might not be a bad idea. Airlines do it so there must be a way for PTL to buy the rights. People are used to paying for a current film so it might be a wallet opener.

[dynamo_joe] 30/4/2007 16:38

I think maybe Patientline SHOULD go into porn.

[scribbler101] 29/4/2007 00:25

richardbees - When I said the bank debt could be written off I meant either receivership or debt/equity swap - either leaving nothing or very little for shareholders.

In this case the banks' position is almost certainly very weak, as contracts with hospitals almost certainly fail on receivership of PTL - unless the NHS is spectacularly incompetent at making contracts, which is maybe less improbable than we wuld wish.

Eurotunnel is a poor comparator - shareholders should have been dead years ago, but are very favoured by the contractual and treaty position.

[richardbees] 28/4/2007 21:51

"scribbler101 - The bank debt does not HAVE to be serviced - it can be written off"

You what? ........ Are you real? ........you really should not be gambling in this market if you don't understand the rules.

The Bank Debt TAKES PRIORITY....Have a look at what happened to Eurotunnel

[devbod] 28/4/2007 16:39

Can't see the bank being too keen on it tho ;)

Seriously, the bank will want to maximise the amount it can get back and keeping the company running is the best way to do that. We know the debt is unsustainable so unless the government writes a massive cheque to buy and then lease back the kit as part of a call costs reduction solution then its dilution for current shareholders. Short term everything hinges on the outcome of the DoH call charges discussions and from whats happening in the media it looks like PTL are trying to drag them to the table.

Some dilution may be inevitable but if it gets rid of the debt perhaps buyers at the current price won't do so badly even if there was a 95% dilution. Free of debt and license restrictions PTL could yet make a lot of money.

[scribbler101] 28/4/2007 14:45

The bank debt does not HAVE to be serviced - it can be written off. Best solution for NHS and patients.

[richardbees] 27/4/2007 21:32

Jon - no one can enforce anything at a hospital bedside!

The huge bank debt has to be serviced - so imo it's inevitable that PTL is going to revert to ownership by the banks

[jonc] 27/4/2007 21:02

A spokeswoman for Patientline said TVs were never removed from the wards, the only difference was patients would have to pay to use them as a way of making it equal across the whole of the hospital.

She added that a temporary agreement had been drawn up between Patientline and the hospital until a long-term deal was settled.

[jonc] 27/4/2007 20:52

At least they don't sell cancer sticks or peddle hardcore pornography DevBod.

The DofH appear not to be negotiating so yes they have been pushed into a corner.

JC

[devbod] 27/4/2007 20:50

Wow, looks like Patientline are playing serious hardball. A dangerous game tho, they were'nt winning the PR game before this. They do seem to be deliberately being antagonistic and taking the TVs from terminally sick children is going to make it politically harder to bail them out. I can't help but feel PTL have been pushed into a corner but the media have so far ignored the real story for the stereotyped big business profiteering on the sick and I doubt that will change until tbey have their scalp.

[jonc] 27/4/2007 19:11

The chancellor said he would look into the matter and as a result the hospital says it will now pay to restore the service.

[jonc] 27/4/2007 10:16

Noted Devbod.

Thanks

[devbod] 27/4/2007 10:14

JonC: I think there were multiple agreements, the contracts with individual hospitals and the agreement with the DoH (the 'Patient Power' licenses). I suspect the charge caps that we both thought existed were part of the latter and when they lapsed the limits went with them together with other obligations.

[jonc] 27/4/2007 10:03

BTW

I think that the combined TV and internet access are now very good value at £2.90 for 24 hours.

[jonc] 27/4/2007 10:01

I'm puzzled by the recent announcement regarding outgoing call charges.

All the information that I can find indicates that outgoing call charges are capped at 10p. Have put in a question to investors relations (yesterday) but no response yet.