Ultrasis Plc Regulatory News (ULT)

22 Sep 2008 08:28



Date: 22nd September 2008

Ultrasis plc announces a £247,000 contract with Ashton, Leigh and Wigan PCT to provide "Beating the Blues" for the treatment of depression.

The North West is leading the way in providing "Beating the Blues" the only computerised cognitive behavioural therapy (CCBT) program approved by The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence ("NICE") for the treatment of depression. Ashton, Leigh and Wigan Primary Care Trust ("PCT") has followed Oldham PCT which made the same commitment for its patients in February.

Under a three year agreement, which has a value of £247,000 over three years, Ashton, Leigh and Wigan PCT has commissioned the full level of treatments recommended by NICE for its patient population of 330,000.

Ashton, Leigh and Wigan PCT has also renewed its commitment to the Relief suite of self help eTherapy programs provided by Ultrasis. These online programs for anxiety, depression, stress and insomnia have been used successfully over the last 4 years with the PCT's population.

Nigel Brabbins, Ultrasis' Chief Executive, said: "This contract once again demonstrates the confidence that commissioners have in Beating the Blues for the treatment of mild and moderate depression. We are delighted that the Ashton, Leigh and Wigan PCT has made this commitment and we look forward to helping them deliver significantly improved access to psychological therapies for their patients."

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For further information please contact:

Nigel Brabbins Ultrasis E-Mail: ultrasis@ultrasis.com Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7566 3900 Fax: +44 (0) 20 7253 5313

Geoff Nash FinnCap Nominated Adviser and Joint BrokerTelephone: +44 (0) 20 7600 1658

John Webb Marshall Securities Joint Broker Telephone: +44 (0) 207 490 3788

Karen White/Sarah Rice

JBP Public Relations

E-Mail: karen@jbp.co.uk, sarah@jbp.co.uk

Telephone: +44 (0) 117 9073400/ +44 (0) 7787 148393

Editors Notes:

Ultrasis plc is a healthcare company with core expertise in health, psychology, software development and programme management. The Company delivers computerised healthcare products to the NHS, the corporate sector and other healthcare providers in the UK and internationally. 

Ultrasis was the first company to offer computerised products based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and interactive multimedia, and is the world leader in this field. The products help people tackle stress, anxiety and depression, and a full spectrum of related chronic conditions. 

Beating the Blues is an eight-week, web-based treatment programme for mild and moderate depression based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Following a rigorous examination by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), "Beating the Blues" was approved by NICE in February 2006 for use in the National Health Service. 

On 28 March 2007 the Secretary of State for Health announced a framework agreement for the use of cCBT in the NHS and approved "Beating the Blues", saying: "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."

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