"they are increasing the cost of phone calls from 10p to 26p per minute"

If you think that is bad, then to phone in costs 49p per minute peak and 39p off peak from a land line. "Mobile tariffs may vary" was the message I got when I rang my wife to see how she was this afternoon.

"There are times I really wonder if some companies have ever heard of Supply, demand, and margins..."

They have. I believe what Patientline have is called a monopoly.

I have heard that hospitals get nothing from Patientline for the "service" the provide. If that's true it's nothing short of scandalous. There is a clear need for some sort of regulation, but no chance given our present govt. has bought into the Thatcher project.