WIREDGOV

The Critical Equipment Requirement Engineering Team (CERET) has been named winners of the COVID-19 Outstanding Response award at the 2021 Government Opportunities (GO) Awards Wales.

The GO Awards Wales were held virtually on 29 April 2021, recognising excellence in procurement across the public sector.

CERET was established in March 2020 to respond to urgent need of medical devices including PPE due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It consists of the Welsh Government Health, Economy, Innovation and Procurement teams; NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership (NWSSP); the National Procurement Service, the Surgical Masks Testing Laboratory; Life Sciences Hub; and was led by Industry Wales.

CERET identified and responded to the urgent requirements of the NHS, including supply of visors, facemasks, scrubs, gowns, hand sanitiser, and aprons. In addition to working with current suppliers, CERET helped the NWSSP to find new compliant suppliers to supplement existing supply routes. Companies such as the Royal Mint repurposed to produce visors; Penderyn Distillery made hand sanitiser; as well as a large number of community volunteers being supplied material with which to make scrubs.

CERET also championed Welsh innovation, and a number of medical devices were developed and trialled including a respiratory device known as CPAP, an Oximeter and an oxygen mask.

Congratulations to all category winners are this year’s GO Awards Wales! All winners automatically qualify for the UK National GO Awards taking place on 15 September 2021. 

Find out more here.