Ultrasis Plc Regulatory News (ULT)

28 Nov 2005 11:44

Ultrasis PLC28 November 2005 ULTRASIS PLC MORE PATIENTS BEATING THE BLUES IN WILTSHIRE Patients with mental health issues who live in Wiltshire are set to benefit fromthe extension of innovative drug-free treatment, thanks to the latest agreementsto be signed with interactive healthcare specialist, Ultrasis plc. Following positive feedback from both GPs and patients, Swindon Primary CareTrust (PCT) has renewed for a further two years its licence for the Beating theBlues programme developed by Ultrasis. Such has been the success of the Swindonpilot scheme that two neighbouring PCT's, Kennet and North Wiltshire PCT andWest Wiltshire PCT, are now also set to introduce Beating the Blues. In addition, the three PCTs are to launch another of Ultrasis' successfulinteractive healthcare programmes - the Relief Series - which is a suite ofprogrammes designed to help identify and alleviate the symptoms of anxiety,depression, stress and insomnia. Beating the Blues is a Computerised Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CCBT)programme designed for the treatment of mild to moderate depression. Currentappraisal from the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)recommends that Beating the Blues is available to all patients via the NHS andthe initial results in Swindon certainly bear this out. Swindon GP Peter Crouch is very pleased with the progress made by patients athis surgery. "I think the main advantage of Beating the Blues is that it is veryeasy to use and patients can follow it at their own pace, tailored to theirparticular symptoms such as depression, anxiety or a mixture of the two. I havefound that patients who have completed the course become less dependent on ourservices because the process encourages self-reliance." Geoff Degg, Joint Mental Health Commissioner for Swindon commented: "The resultsfrom the Beating the Blues trial support our belief that a drug-free, self-helpapproach can be highly beneficial with a number of mental health issues. Byintroducing the Relief Series as well, we can extend this proven approach tohelp tackle problems which affect a significant proportion of the population". Alison Middleton, Mental Health Commissioner for Kennet and Wiltshire, added:"We've watched with interest the results of using Beating the Blues in Swindonand we're very pleased to be introducing this and the Relief Series as part of apopulation-wide programme for health promotion and well being which is beingfunded in part by the joint commissioning board for mental health."Nigel Brabbins, recently appointed CEO of Ultrasis commented: "As the use ofinteractive healthcare becomes more widespread in the UK, Dr Crouch and hiscolleagues at Swindon PCT will get the recognition they deserve for being at thevanguard of adopting a new approach to treatment of depression and anxiety, aspart of an overall strategy for dealing with mental health issues." ENDS EnquiriesUltrasis PlcCharlie Martin, Executive Director0207 566 3900 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange