http://www.patientline.co.uk/downloads/hospedia_press_release.pdfPRESS RELEASEAn exciting overhaul of the UK’s bedside hospital entertainment and telephony industry is
announced today after the acquisition of Patientline UK Ltd.
Up to 10 million patients a year can now expect lower incoming call charges, better services and more
reliable equipment as a result of the change.
The newly formed Hospedia Ltd will run over 80,000 NHS bedside systems across the UK currently operated
by Patientline UK and Premier Telesolutions, subject to OFT approval of the restructure.
Over £35m of Patientline’s debt is being wiped out and if the plan gets the go ahead more than £12m will
be invested in updating telephone and television units as well as adding new services.
A better range of services that patients want will be available, such as:
• Lower inbound phone prices
• Improved internet access
• On demand movies
• Audio books
• New games
• Packages offering better value
• Longer stay discounts
• New content from other media partners
Hospitals will also benefit from new services aimed at helping them in their daily operations. Services
include cleaning tracker systems to help combat the risk of infections such as MRSA and Patient Survey
Systems aimed at improving the patient experience.
The aim is also to provide service to another 20,000 beds in hospitals where patients currently have no
bedside TV or phone to use at all, leading to new employment opportunities.
Tim Sherwood, Chairman of the newly formed Hospedia group, said: “This is great news not only for
patients and hospitals, but also for staff and suppliers. Our goal is to rebuild consumer confidence in NHS
bedside entertainment systems. The restructured debt and new finance gives much needed stability to
the business, allows for the delivery of new innovative services and gives a real opportunity to begin to
provide improved value for money”.
It is hoped the Office of Fair Trading review process will be concluded by October.
ENDS
Hospedia Ltd
Thames Valley Court
183/187 Bath Road
Slough, Berkshire SL1 4AA
Tel: 0845 414 6000www.hospedia.co.ukEDITORS NOTES
A new company, Hospedia Ltd (“Hospedia”), is acquiring Patientline UK Ltd (“Patientline”) and with the
support of the banking syndicate that have financed Patientline, the existing debt is being reduced by over
£35m.
Hospedia group will also acquire Premier Telesolutions Ltd (“Premier”), subject to approval by the Office
of Fair Trading and the usual transaction conditions.
Hospedia’s current shareholders are the Patientline banking syndicate (The Royal Bank of Scotland plc,
HSBC Bank plc, Bank of Scotland plc and IKB Deutsche Industriebank AG) as the existing Patientline debt
is being reduced by over £35m through a debt for equity swap.
Subject to OFT clearance and the acquisition of Premier, Milestone Capital LLP, which owns the majority of
shares in Premier, will also become a shareholder in Hospedia group along with the management team led
by Tim Weil, Premier’s CEO. Tim Weil will become CEO of Hospedia on completion of the deal.
Subject to the acquisition of Premier, Hospedia group will also receive over £12m of additional investment
from the existing Patientline banking syndicate.
Patientline Plc, the original holding company of Patientline UK Ltd, is now in administration. However,
the operations of Patientline UK Ltd, its contracts and the services it provides at each hospital continue
uninterrupted.
NHS bedside entertainment and telephony systems have been provided by private companies over the
past 10 years at no cost to the NHS to install maintain or operate. Between 2001 and 2007, installations
continued on this basis under a Government led program called “Patient Power”.
Currently, Patientline and Premier operate in excess of 80,000 terminals installed by the bedside providing
TV and telephony at more than 200 NHS hospitals across Great Britain.
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