RNS Number:0176G
Meridian Hospital Company PLC
10 January 2003


                        NOTICE OF MEETING OF BONDHOLDERS

         THIS NOTICE IS IMPORTANT AND REQUIRES THE IMMEDIATE ATTENTION 
           OF BONDHOLDERS. IF BONDHOLDERS ARE IN ANY DOUBT AS TO THE 
            ACTION THEY SHOULD TAKE, THEY SHOULD CONSULT THEIR OWN 
            INDEPENDENT PROFESSIONAL ADVISERS AUTHORISED UNDER THE 
       FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000 IF THEY ARE IN THE UNITED 
                KINGDOM, OR FROM ANOTHER APPROPRIATELY ORGANISED 
                      PROFESSIONAL ADVISER, WITHOUT DELAY


                         MERIDIAN HOSPITAL COMPANY PLC
                                 (the "Issuer")

                     (a company incorporated and registered 
                              in England and Wales)

                               NOTICE OF A MEETING

                         of the holders of those of the

                          #91,200,000 4 3/16 per cent. 
                      Secured Index-Linked Bonds due 2028

                      of the Issuer presently outstanding 
                             (namely #87,330,000) 
               (the "Bondholders" and the "Bonds" respectively).



NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a meeting of the Bondholders (the "Meeting")
convened by the Issuer will be held at the offices of Clifford Chance Limited
Liability Partnership, 200 Aldersgate Street, London EC1A 4JJ on 20 January 2003
at 11 a.m. (London time) for the purposes of considering and, if thought fit,
passing the following resolution which will be proposed as an Extraordinary
Resolution in accordance with the provisions of the Bond Trust Deed dated 15
July 1998 (the "Bond Trust Deed") made between the Issuer and Prudential Trustee
Company Limited (the "Bond Trustee") as trustee for the Bondholders and
constituting the Bonds:


                          EXTRAORDINARY RESOLUTION

"THAT this meeting of the holders of those of the #91,200,000 4 3/16 per cent.
Secured Index-Linked Bonds due 2028 of Meridian Hospital Company PLC presently
outstanding (the "Bonds" and the "Issuer" respectively) constituted by the Bond
Trust Deed dated 15 July 1998 (the "Bond Trust Deed") made between the Issuer
and Prudential Trustee Company Limited (the "Bond Trustee") as trustee for the
holders of the Bonds (the "Bondholders") hereby:

(a)   consents to the replacement of the current Computer Model (as defined in
      Schedule 6 (Cash Flow Forecasts) to the Bond Trust Deed) by a new computer 
      model (the "New Computer Model") prepared by KPMG and audited by Operis; 

(b)   authorises and requests the Bond Trustee to concur in the replacement of
      the current Computer Model by the New Computer Model referred to in 
      paragraph (a) of this Resolution and take any steps incidental to this to 
      give effect to this Extraordinary Resolution."


Background and reasons for Meeting

The Issuer wishes to change the existing Computer Model from Lotus format to
Excel format in order to remove difficulties in operating the Computer Model, to
correct errors in its form and structure and update the assumptions incorporated
therein to reflect more accurately the current accounting policies of the
Issuer. The cell logic of and assumptions used in the New Computer Model has
been audited by Operis.

Copies of the Bond Trust Deed (including the Terms and Conditions of the Bonds)
are available for inspection by the Bondholders at the office specified below of
Bank of New York (the "Principal Paying Agent") from the date of publication of
this Notice, and a report by Operis in respect of the cell logic of and
assumptions used in the New Computer Model, and the New Computer Model in the
form in which it is proposed it shall be adopted (if the Extraordinary
Resolution set out above is passed) will be available at the office specified
below of the Principal Paying Agent from 10 January 2003.

The Issuer considers that the proposed replacement contained in the
Extraordinary Resolution set out above is fair and reasonable in the
circumstances and, accordingly, the Issuer recommends all Bondholders to vote in
favour of the Extraordinary Resolution.

The Issuer has accordingly convened the Meeting of Bondholders by this Notice to
request their agreement by Extraordinary Resolution to the matters contained in
the Extraordinary Resolution. The attention of Bondholders is particularly drawn
to the quorum required for the Meeting and for an adjourned Meeting which is set
out in paragraph 2 of "Voting and Quorum" below,

In accordance with normal practice the Bond Trustee expresses no opinion on the
merits of the New Computer Model. It has, however, authorised it to be stated
that, on the basis of the information set out in this Notice, it has no
objection to the Extraordinary Resolution set out above being submitted to the
Bondholders for their consideration. The Bond Trustee has, however, not been
involved in formulating the proposed replacement of the existing Computer Model
and makes no representation that all relevant information has been disclosed to
the Bondholders in this Notice. Accordingly, the Bond Trustee urges Bondholders
who are in any doubt as to the impact of the implementation of the New Computer
Model to seek their own professional advice.


Voting and Quorum

1.    The provisions governing me convening and holding of a Meeting are set out
      in Schedule 3 to the Bond Trust Deed, a copy of which is available for
      inspection by the Bondholders during normal business hours at the 
      specified office of the Principal Paying Agent set out below.

      All of the Bonds are represented by a global bond held by a common 
      depositary for Clearstream Banking, societe anonyme ("Clearstream, 
      Luxembourg") and/or Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. as operator of the Euroclear 
      System ("Euroclear"). For the purposes of the Meeting, an accountholder 
      with Clearstream, Luxembourg and/or Euroclear shall be treated as the 
      holder of the Outstanding Principal Amount (as defined in the Bond Trust 
      Deed) of Bonds credited to his account.

      A Bondholder wishing to attend at the Meeting in person must produce at 
      the Meeting a valid voting certificate issued by the Principal Paying 
      Agent relating to the Bond(s) in respect of which he or she wishes to 
      vote.

      A Bondholder not wishing to attend and vote at the Meeting in person may 
      either deliver his valid voting certificate(s) to the person whom he 
      wishes to attend on his behalf or give a voting instruction in accordance 
      with the procedures of Clearstream, Luxembourg or Euroclear instructing 
      the Principal Paying Agent to appoint a proxy to attend and vote at the 
      Meeting in accordance with his instructions.

      A Bondholder may request the relevant clearing system to block the Bonds 
      in his own account and to hold the same to the order or under the control 
      of the Principal Paying Agent, not later than 48 hours before the time 
      appointed for holding the Meeting (or, if applicable, any adjournment of 
      such Meeting), for the purpose of obtaining voting certificates, or giving 
      voting instructions in respect of the relative Meeting. Bonds so blocked 
      will not be released until the earlier of the conclusion of the Meeting 
      (or, if applicable, any adjournment of such Meeting) and the surrender to 
      the Principal Paying Agent of the voting certificate(s).

2.    The quorum required at the Meeting shall be two or more persons present in
      person holding voting certificates or being proxies and representing in 
      the aggregate a clear majority in Outstanding Principal Amount (as defined 
      in the Bond Trust Deed) of the Bonds for the time being outstanding (as 
      defined in the Bond Trust Deed). 

      If within 15 minutes from the time fixed for the Meeting a quorum is not 
      present the Meeting shall stand adjourned (unless the Issuer and the Bond 
      Trustee agree that it be dissolved) for such period, not being less than 
      5 days nor more than 42 days, and to such time and place, as may be 
      decided by the Chairman of the Meeting. At such adjourned Meeting the 
      quorum shall be two or more persons present in person holding voting 
      certificates or being proxies (whatever the Outstanding Principal Amount 
      of the Bonds so held or represented).

3.    Every question submitted to the Meeting will be decided in the first
      instance by a show of hands unless a poll is (before or on the declaration 
      of the result of the show of hands) demanded by the Chairman of the 
      Meeting, the Issuer, the Bond Trustee, or by one or more persons holding 
      one or more voting certificates or being proxies and representing in the 
      aggregate not less than one-fiftieth in Outstanding Principal Amount of 
      the Bonds for the time being outstanding. On a show of hands every person 
      who is present in person and who produces a voting certificate or is a 
      proxy shall have one vote. On a poll every person who is so present shall 
      have one vote in respect of each #1 in Outstanding Principal Amount of the 
      Bonds so represented by the voting certificate so produced or in respect 
      of which he is a proxy. Without prejudice to the obligations of proxies 
      named in any block voting instruction, any person entitled to more than 
      one vote need not use all his votes or cast all the votes to which he is 
      entitled in the same way. 

      In case of equality of votes, the Chairman of the Meeting shall, both on a 
      show of hands and on a poll, have a casting vote in addition to the vote 
      or votes (if any) which he may have as a Bondholder or as a holder of a 
      voting certificate or as a proxy or representative.

4.    To be passed, the Extraordinary Resolution requires a majority in favour
      consisting of not less than three-quarters of the votes cast. If passed, 
      the Extraordinary Resolution will be binding on all the Bondholders, 
      whether or not present at such Meeting and whether or not voting, and upon 
      all the holders of the coupons appertaining to the Bonds.

      Bondholders should contact Bob West at HCP on +44 (0) 1322 612780 or Tim 
      Kashem at Innisfree on +44 (0) 20 7583 4040 with any question relating to 
      the matters contemplated by the Extraordinary Resolution.


                                                 PRINCIPAL PAYING AGENT

                                                    Bank of New York 
                                                    One Canada Square 
                                                      Canary Wharf 
                                                     London E14 5AL


This Notice is given by:
MERIDIAN HOSPITAL COMPANY PLC
3 White Oak Square
London Road
Swanley
Kent BR8 7AG

Dated 20 December 2002



                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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