The Welsh Ambulance Service has won a respected national award.

The Trust scooped the Innovation, Science and Technology prize at the St David Awards 2021 last night in a glittering online ceremony hosted by Wales’ First Minister, Mark Drakeford.

The award was for their ‘rapid’ research project into the sanitisation of emergency ambulances during the Covid-19 pandemic, in partnership with the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI).

Jonathan Turnbull-Ross, the Trust’s Assistant Director of Quality Governance, said: “We are delighted to accept this award.

“The rapid ambulance sanitisation challenge has enabled us to identify suitable technologies to safely sanitise our fleet with greater agility and assurance.

“Whilst little was known about Covid-19 at the start of the pandemic, the robust evaluation process supported by the Defence, Science and Technology Laboratory has assured us of the efficacy of these new technologies.

“Working in partnership with the SBRI Centre of Excellence, Welsh Government and Ministry of Defence, this rapid SBRI initiative has risen to the challenge and serves as an example of how innovation can be delivered at pace.”

Hosted by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, the SBRI Centre of Excellence brings together the healthcare sector and businesses across the UK to work together to solve challenges facing the NHS.

A typical SBRI process can take up to 12 months but this new rapid process slimmed that down to an incredible six weeks.

Lynda Jones, TITLE at SBRI, added: “The SBRI team are extremely proud and privileged to have received this award for the ambulance project.

“A huge thank you to the team at the Welsh Ambulance Service who worked with us during this very busy time.

“We also wish to thank the stakeholders at Welsh Government’s Innovation and Health departments, the Ministry of Defence and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board – we couldn’t have done it without you.”

Announcing the winners, First Minister Mark Drakeford said: “Despite the challenges we have faced in the past year, this award recognises how innovation has helped us in meeting those challenges.”