Yorkshire health trusts sign up for depression treatment
HEALTHCARE services group Ultrasis today announced that 11 of the 14 primary care trusts (PCTs) in the region have signed contracts to provide the firm’s depression treatment.
The PCTs in the Yorkshire and Humber Strategic Health Authority (SHA) will provide Ultrasis’ Beating the Blues treatment to patients suffering from mild and moderate depression.
The two-year contract will be worth more than £600,000 to London-based Ultrasis for Beating the Blues which is an eight-week web-based treatment programme for depression.
Nigel Brabbins, Ultrasis’ chief executive, said: “With the support of the Yorkshire and Humber Procurement Hub and the local PCT commissioners we have managed to significantly increase the availability of Beating the Blues across the region and helped the PCTs to meet their obligations to provide NICE recommended treatments.
“Unfortunately, many people across the country are still being denied access to this proven treatment for depression, despite the Government’s public pledge to deliver the NICE recommended treatment from April 2007.
“We have recently met with Department of Health officials to ask that they deliver on Ministers’ promises by ensuring that Beating the Blues is available in every GP surgery and for everyone who needs it, therefore bringing to an end the current postcode lottery,” he added.
