Ultrasis Plc Regulatory News (ULT)

16 Jan 2008 07:01

Ultrasis PLC16 January 2008 Press release 16 January 2008 Ultrasis plc Ultrasis plc signs Opening Doors as distribution partner in New Zealand Ultrasis (the "Company") the provider of computer-delivered, interactivehealthcare products and associated services, has entered into an agreement withOpening Doors Limited, a provider of psychological healthcare services tocommunities in New Zealand, under which Opening Doors will act as a distributionpartner for Ultrasis' flagship product, Beating the Blues ("BtB"). Opening Doors will undertake an implementation project, demonstrating Beatingthe Blues within four distinct health communities covering a population of some150,000 people (Manaia Primary Health Organisation, Whangarei, Kiapara CareIncorporated, Dargaville, Te Tai Tokerau Primary Health Organisation, Kerikeri /Kiataia and the southern Bay of Islands and Tihewa Mauriora Primary HealthOrganisation, Kiakohe). One of the sites, Tihewa Mauriora, Kiakohe, will belooking specifically at how the programme could help support citizens from theMaori population and what cultural modifications, if any, may be required in thefuture. The objective of the demonstration will be to show the clinical efficacy andcost benefits of computerised cognitive behavioural therapy ("cCBT") in thetreatment of anxiety and depression amongst the population of New Zealand. Tracey Hodgkinson, Director of Opening Doors Limited, commented: "We haveidentified four key sites who wish to participate in this demonstration and areconfident this will provide the evidence for Beating the Blues to become a keymethod of relieving the deficits currently being experienced within NewZealand's healthcare system by improving access to evidence-based treatment foranxiety and depression." Rose Lightfoot, Chief Executive of Te Tai Tokerau Primary Health Organisation,said: "As one of the four New Zealand sites participating in the Beating the Bluescomputerised cognitive behavioural therapy pilot, we are particularly interestedin assessing the impact on health as we believe it will significantly increasethe range of strategies available to assist clients in self-management andimproved wellbeing." Ultrasis considers Beating the Blues especially suitable for providing access topsychological therapies across large geographical territories where smallerpopulations often find access to specialised local healthcare can be severelyrestricted. The treatment will prove valuable to those in rural areas locatedaway from local services. With a shortage of CBT trained therapists in NewZealand, Beating the Blues will enable rapid access to therapy and help supporthealthcare organisations to deliver improved health outcomes. Ultrasis believes the agreement, while not large in financial terms, isparticularly significant in underpinning BtB's first large-scale demonstrationproject in the Southern Hemisphere. Nigel Brabbins, Chief Executive of Ultrasis, said: "New Zealand is well knownfor its accessible national healthcare system and we see this partnership as avaluable opportunity to prove that Beating the Blues can be used just aseffectively outside the United Kingdom and has the potential to be adapted tosuit specific cultural needs." He added: "This represents a further step in our international programme,underlining the potential market for the application of the Beating the Bluesproduct abroad." - ends - For further information please contact: Ultrasis plc:Nigel Brabbins, Chief Executive +44 (0) 20 7566 3900nbrabbins@ultrasis.com www.ultrasis.com JMFinn Capital Markets Ltd, NOMAD and Joint BrokerGeoff Nash +44 (0) 20 7600 1658 www.jmfinn.com Marshall Securities, Joint Broker:John Webb +44 (0) 20 7490 3788 Opening Doors Limited:Tracey Hodgkinson +64 (0) 9 435 2151tracey@opening-doors.co.nz www.opening-doors.co.nzPaul Hodgkinson +64 (0) 9 435 2151paul@opening-doors.co.nz Media enquiries: Capital MS&LPeter Curtain / James Madsen +44 (0) 20 7307 5330james.madsen@capitalmsl.com Notes to editors: About Ultrasis plc Ultrasis plc is a healthcare company with core expertise in health, psychology,software development and programme management. The Company delivers computerisedhealthcare products to the NHS, the corporate sector and other healthcareproviders in the UK and US. Ultrasis was the first company to offer computerised products based on CognitiveBehavioural Therapy (CBT) and interactive multimedia, and is the world leader inthis field. The products help people tackle stress, anxiety and depression, anda full spectrum of related chronic conditions. The wellness shop is an on-line retail service designed and developed to addressthe growing demand for quality healthcare products and services that help peopleto be more active in managing their own health and wellbeing. By going to www.thewellnessshop.co.uk people will be able to find affordableself-help programmes to tackle some of the more common emotional health problemsthat people experience in their lives; including depression, anxiety, stress andsleep problems. www.ultrasis.com www.thewellnessshop.co.uk About Opening Doors Opening Doors Limited is a health services company offering a range of servicesdriven by a belief that given the tools an individual, family or community canbe empowered to maximise and reach their own defined potential. The services allare based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) models. Directors Paul Hodgkinson and Tracey Hodgkinson originate from the UK where theytrained and worked as mental-health professionals in a diverse variety of bothprimary and secondary settings. Both have particular specialist areas ofinterest but share a commitment to and belief in CBT as a framework forassisting people with their health issues. Having worked in a specialist CBT service in the UK, Ms. Hodgkinson hasexperienced the success of the computerized CBT programme Beating the Blues, andOpening Doors strongly believes that it could be of great value to the people ofNew Zealand. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange