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16 Oct 2008 10:35
Press release
16th October 2008
Ultrasis extends contract with The Priory Group
to provide Beating the Blues
Ultrasis plc, the provider of computer delivered interactive healthcare products and associated services, is pleased to announce an extended agreement to provide Beating the Blues to Priory Group, a leading UK independent provider of specialist mental healthcare, for use under its new contract to provide psychological therapies for the Richmond and Twickenham PCT. The contract is for an initial period of three years.
Beating the Blues is the only computerised cognitive behavioural therapy program recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence for the treatment of mild to moderate depression and has been used by The Priory Group as part of its contract with Croydon PCT.
Ian Johnson, Service Development Implementation Manager for Priory Group, said: "Priory has delivered cCBT (computerised cognitive behavioural therapy) using Beating the Blues successfully over the last 18 months in the service to patients in Croydon PCT. The good clinical outcomes there, together with the valuable relationship with Ultrasis that has encouraged developments with the programme design and web-based delivery, have been instrumental in our decision to provide Beating the Blues in Richmond & Twickenham PCT. We have established Beating the Blues as a standard Step 2 therapy for depression in our delivery of stepped care interventions in primary care psychological therapies and Improving Access to Psychological Therapy programmes."
Nigel Brabbins, Chief Executive of Ultrasis, said: "The Priory Group is planning to increase the number of contracts with PCTs for its successful patient focussed approach to the provision of psychological therapies. We are pleased that they regard Beating the Blues as a key component of their service delivery model."
ENDS
Notes to Editors
Beating the Blues is a unique eight-session, online programme for the treatment of mild and moderate depression and anxiety based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. It is the only computerised CBT programme for the treatment of mild to moderate depression approved and recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).
Ultrasis was the first company to offer computerised products based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and interactive multimedia, and is the world leader in this field, servicing the NHS, the corporate sector and other healthcare providers in both the UK and the US.
Approving Beating the Blues for use by the NHS, the Secretary of State for Health announced on 28th March 2007: "Computer-based therapy for milder, but more common mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety should be made available to any patients in England who could benefit from it from April [2007]."
Beating the Blues is now also available privately as Beating the Blues Connect. This means it is available immediately for people who wish to use it without going through the NHS referral system. And for those who do not wish to go to their GP, the programme provides confidential and easy access to a self-help programme with a proven success record.
Nigel Brabbins CEO E-Mail: ultrasis@ultrasis.com Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7566 3900 Fax: +44 (0) 20 7253 5313
Geoff Nash FinnCap Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7600 1658
John Webb Marshall Securities Joint Broker +44 (0) 207 490 3788
Karen White/Sarah Rice
JBP Public Relations
E-Mail: karen@jbp.co.uk, sarah@jbp.co.uk
Telephone: +44 (0117) 9073400
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