Advantage Healthcare Group has posted a loss of £1.2m for the year ended 31 December 2009, compared with a profit of £2.5m a year earlier.

Accounts filed at Companies House revealed that the company’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) stood at £1.3m for the year, which breaks down to a profit of £270,000 in the first six months of the year and a profit of £1.1m in the second half of 2010.

The company’s turnover for the 12-month period was £30.1m, compared with £32.5m in 2008.

The directors’ report said: “In the first quarter of the year, the group was adversely affected by the poor economic climate and suffered a decline, particularly in the supply of staff to nursing homes. From April onwards, the monthly EBITDA has increased has increased steadily as steps to build the business have taken effect, achieving ever level of profitability for the group late in 2009.”

The company, which has a network of 23 branches in the UK, increased its staff numbers in the year, from 168 in 2008 to 174 in 2008.