A WELSH Ambulance Services NHS Trust project to improve the supply of vital medicines using hi-tech “smart cabinets” in locations across Wales has won a highly coveted industry award.

The Omnicell Project, which improves the security, management and supply of medicines to ambulance clinicians, has won the MediWales Innovation Awards’ efficiency through technology category in recognition of its significant benefits to patients and staff.

The trust’s medical director Dr Brendan Lloyd, project lead Chris Moore and project manager Stephanie Harris accepted the award from Andrew Goodall, chief executive officer of NHS Wales during a gala dinner at the Museum of Wales in Cardiff.

In its 13th year, the Innovation Awards was attended by more than 300 VIPs and guests who came together to celebrate the achievements of the NHS, life science and health technology communities.

The trust has successfully installed 20 automated Omnicell medicine cabinets, thanks to funding from Welsh Government's Efficiency Through Technology Fund.

The cabinets operate using guiding light technology and fingerprint access, providing a more efficient and secure way for ambulance clinicians to access medicines and giving the Trust better control and audit capability of its stock.

The new cabinets replace a system that was heavily reliant on paper records and required paramedics to physically visit the hospital pharmacy to order and pick up certain drugs.

Centralised control of medicine supply across Wales means the Trust can manage stock efficiently so that clinicians have fast, reliable access to the medicines they need to deliver high quality, pre-hospital care and achieve the best possible patient outcomes.

Dr Lloyd said: “It’s the first time the trust has won this award and I’m thrilled that the Omnicell project has been recognised for innovation and patient benefit.

“This all began with an idea from our clinical lead Chris Moore; now the technology is being adopted by stakeholders across the country.

“I’m proud that Welsh Ambulance is willing to take a lead in embracing technology and innovative thinking to improve unscheduled care and patient outcomes, and I’m delighted for the Trust and the project team who thoroughly deserve this award.”

The Omnicell cabinets are installed in 15 hospital sites - including Wrexham Maelor Hospital - and five ambulance stations across Wales, one of which is the Welsh Ambulance Service's Dobshill depot.

Chris Moore said: “I am really proud to have been involved in the project and delighted to have received the award. This project was enormously reliant on the cooperation and willingness of health board colleagues to recognise what we were aiming to achieve and required input from Health Board Estates departments, ICT, Emergency Department, Unscheduled Care and Pharmacy.

“I am compelled to offer pharmacy colleagues a special mention, because my overall experience of the professionals I had the pleasure to work with was overwhelmingly positive. We simply could not have achieved what we have without their support.”

The medicine presentations in all cabinets is standard and includes pharmacy-labelled drugs called ‘to take home’ drugs for patients treated at home by advance paramedic practitioners, as well as drugs for sole access by clinicians taking part in research or trials.