Welsh Blood Service in collaboration with Public Health Wales, Swansea Bay UHB and Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB are named finalists for the NHS Wales Awards!

Welsh Blood Service is celebrating after its collaborative project made the finals of this year’s NHS Wales Awards, announced today (Monday 15 August 2022).

In collaboration with Public Health Wales, Swansea Bay UHB and Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB the Welsh Blood Service is up for the following award:

Providing services in partnership across NHS Wales
• A partnership approach to rapidly establishing COVID-19 surveillance during the pandemic.
The scheme is a partnership of four NHS Wales organisations to deliver the COVID-19 serological surveillance. The Welsh Blood Service provides blood samples and demographic information to the scheme. The scheme updates Welsh Government on the changes in infection and vaccine-mediated immunity to the COVID-19 virus in the adult Welsh population, month-on-month.

The project, which began during the first wave in 2020, has processed over 66,000 samples to date. This supports effective decision-making about vaccination programmes and public health measures in Wales.

Dr Siân James leads the project for the Welsh Blood Service, which involves expertise and support of Business Intelligence, Automated Testing, Hospital Services and Research Facilitation. This cross-department work, in tandem with the partnership between Public Health Wales, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board and Swansea Bay University Health Board, has been recognised for its impact by the award nomination.

“We are extremely pleased to have our positive approach to collaboration and creating strong partnerships be acknowledged. Being shortlisted for an award such as this is a testament to our colleagues who continue to work to ensure the success of project delivery.

“Well done to the team, and the best of luck with the awards in October 2022.”

The Awards recognise how innovative ideas for change can make a significant difference to the patients who need care, the organisations who provide care, and the health and care system as a whole. It is an opportunity to showcase hardworking and inspiring teams working together, striving to improve healthcare practices and patient care across Wales. The winners will be announced at a ceremony on 10 October 2022.

With so many inspiring entries being submitted this year, the judging panel of NHS experts found it incredibly tough to shortlist the 24 finalists in the 8 award categories. The next stage is for the judging panels to virtually visit each finalist to find out more and see first-hand the benefits they’ve brought to patients.

The NHS Wales Awards are organised by Improvement Cymru which is the national improvement service for NHS Wales delivered by Public Health Wales.

For a full list of finalists please visit www.nhsawards.wales