Patientline is begining to reach critical mass with its penetration of the NHS.
This from their website:
"The market-leading pioneer of bedside communication and entertainment services within the NHS healthcare sector since 1994.
We offer a comprehensive solution partnering Trusts in delivering digital TV, telephone, free 24hr radio, internet, email and information services direct to bedside.
Our state of the art technology delivers a range of Trust focused facilities designed to reduce hospital staff workload thereby improving patient care.
Patientline is exclusively focused on providing bedside services and remains committed to improving the hospital experience for patients and streamlining patient care for our hospitals.
Patientline continues to be the market leader in offering bedside communication and entertainment services."

A round of fundraising in June 2002 saw the company raise 128m - this on top of 40 from its flotation in March 2001.
On 15th December, PTL delivered a strong set of results which reassured many in the city that the company is on track to corner the patient bedside information/comms/entertainement niche in the NHS.

The rollout is going to plan and PTL now has 51% share of the hospitals in its target market with 19% yet to decide.

Revenues are now at 16.1m - up 77% in the first half, with operating margins up from 44% to 50%.

PTL's business plan is augmented by the Government's Patient Power Directive which is promting bedside TV and communication services and has stipulated that any hospital >400 beds must have contracted a service provider by end of 2004.

However compelling the core business is , the exciting kicker here could be provided with the possiblity of dislpay of electronic patient records at the bedside. For anyone who has worked in the NHS and experienced the frustration of being slow - or even unable - to find patients notes, especially in emergencies, this could be very important if PTL's network is used to facilitate the bedside delivery of the Integrated Care Records Service.

Techncially, the stock looks strong having broken out of a 4 month consolidation.
Next level seems to be around 1.40 however any more positive newsflow could drive it quickly back to old highs over the 2 mark.
With the next few months seeing a number of key NHS IT contracts being awarded, 2004 could well be a pivotal year for PTL.

Please DYOR.

I have a brokers note should anyone care to read more - email me at ninadan@hotmail.com
http://www.patientline.co.uk

I think this company is very interesting. my husband was in hospital in Exeter last year, and found the patientline facility brilliant for tv and 'phone...almost as good as being a private patient.

Biffa18

The JR in Oxford does have these terminals, but only as a trial in the private wards for the moment. My wife and I were so impressed with the facilities (tv, phone, email) available on them that we both bought shares at 82p. I would think that the JR will roll them out in all the wards soon, along with many other NHS units.

Hi
BT has won 2 TEN YEAR contracts worth 1.616 mil with NHS to provide IT services i see part of this deal is to provide applications etc to provide patients records on a national data base and make them accessable by nurses and doctors at a local level at any NHS hospital , BT IS QUOTED AS SAYING THAT WILL MEAN PATIENTS WILL NO LONGER NEED TO REPEAT INFORMATION AT VARIOUS STAGES OF THERE VISIT TO THE HOSPITAL as all notes will be accessible in all wards and IN real time ,this is being provided by bt,s syntegra subsidiary this will also provide a messaging service and will mean electonic transfer of perscriptions and monitoring of,and also electronic appt booking acessable at any level nationally
surely this can not be good news for patient line as some of these services were rumoured to be on their system especially the patients records etc if thats the case then i can see this share maybe dropping somewhat !!

1.45 next level - then its 2.20
go and buy em back biffa...BT Syntegra are not likely to install bedside terminals in hospitals when there is already hardwear in situ. BT Syntegra are more likely to use an already installed system. Do not be surprised to see an annoucement along these lines from PTL as PTL have a close working relationship with BT - this is precisely why I think PTL could go nuts in 2004 - as the penny drops.
PTL will more than likely provide the conduit whilst BTSyntegra provide the software and support.

Hi Cat
you could be right i might of sold a bit early remains to be seen but chart etc looking good so good luck if your holding ,in the mean time im snaffling up as many cyBIT as i can now that is one to watch ,famous last words as it plummits !!

funny how little interest with this one - spose thats a good sign
:-)

Just to let u know that the share is doing marvellous over 30% since the begiining of the year. I was reading the Metrpo news in the northwest and found that patienteline is recruting staff in the following hospitals (due to their rapid expansion , it read)

Hope Hospital, Salford
Leighton Hospital, Crewe
Trafford General Hospital, Manchester
Rochdale Infirmary, Rochdale
Royal Bolton Hospital, Bolton

So Biffa18 you may need to revise this one. It has potential it will move above 200p b4 June.

2.20 next level

Just opened a new position in these. Looks like it as a monopoly position in the NHS in its business. Cat says 220p next level up, good stuff. Not doing so well today mind a lot of small caps arent. Think were waiting for the off from the Yanks.

cheers GF.

Not a good day for the majority of small caps.

cheers GF.

Just read through the last broker report on these from Evolution Beeson gregory an 8 page report and it makes for superb reading.

This company have a virtual monopoly of the Uk market and Holland.

It really is a cracker of a growth stock and worth buying on the broker note alone. Will post more of it out in the morning.

cheers GF.

Some of the main points taken from the Evolution Beeson Gregory BUY note published just recently..................

1. Under the Governments Patient power directive, it as a virtual ownership of this market under long 15 year contracts and has huge potential for the future.

2. PTL now has 51% share of the market in its targeted range with 19% still to decide.

3. Operating margins before central costs have improved from 44% to 50%.

4. At present the enterprise value of the business is 114.2 million and increasing.

5. In England the government as now stipulated that the very large hospitals with greater than 400 beds must have selected and contracted a provider by the end of December 2003 and the services installed by the end of 2004.

6. Present revenues continue to be based primarily on phone calls and Tv charges, but other revenues from the internet and e-mail are at an early stage.

7. New revenue streams coming online, include catering menu- displays and menu ordering, screening of information videos and advertising, and satisfaction questionnaires.

8. Electronic patient records will provide significant extra revenue streams, this is seen as a massive new area.

9. PTL has a massive presence in Holland and further growth is seen there.

10. Cost are being reduced all the time through economies of scale, and EBITDA margins have been maintained above 20% despite the growing network.

11. Critical to the company is the cashflow position and cash of 1.7million was generated in the last 6 months which more than covered interest charges. This is a big plus as it highlights the commercial viability of the model once the sites become mature.

12. Terminals most are now second generation models which offer , telephone, e-mail, internet, radio, TV, as well as access to the hospital intranet. Patients are charged for usage whilst Patientline staff are on site to maintain the units and provide customer care. ENDS

All in all an excelent Business model I feel and one worth backing.

The only doubts I had before reading this note was the cash flow position, but my mind as been put at rest by the figures produced within the report and also the last company interims.

cheers GF.

Strong looking TA and chart.



Positive Candidate (Medium term) - Jan 20, 2004
Has risen 279% since the bottom on 4 Apr 2003 at 38.00. Has broken the rising trend up. This signals an even stronger rate of growth.

Period Vol.bal. Volatility Liquidity +/- %
1 day - 1.41% 64.34 -1.03%
5 days 39.25 6.07% 54.46 +7.46%
22 days 31.10 19.42% 42.61 +36.49%
66 days 42.92 43.85% 25.48 +85.81%

cheers Gf.

still in the blue and going north.

cheers GF.

From Robbie Burns Frequenttrader...............

The market makers are up to their usual tricks with Patientline, a rise followed by a lunchtime dip - come on guys you're not fooling anyone - all us holders have to do is wait for this one to hit 200!

Yup and 200p seems a little conservative to me Robbie.

cheers Gf.

Big holders are being bid for stock by the market. Something could be going on here.

Great news cat its up 4p aswell. Many thanks for the tip, I really think we have a gem of a share here. I initially was fearfull of the cash flow as I am with any cental government and local government orientated business, but when I went through the accounts I saw that net cach inflow was positive and cash generated was easily eating up interest paid. Well done a real find.

cheers GF.

I make 1.80 next level - but any positive news and then could fly st. thro to 2.20

Exciting news indeed cat and they are flying this afternoon despite the best attentions of MMs to try and keep them down. Will have to have a look at the free float on this one.

cheers gf.

A few words of experience from Robbie burns the Frequenttrader........

Patientline continues its excellent progress, there’s the same pattern every day – up 3 or 4p, then a tree shake with a markdown and then it rises back up later.

cheers Gf.