Welsh healthcare professionals have been honoured at the UK's Advancing Healthcare Awards.

Specialists from NHS Wales were celebrated for their innovative work, collaboration, and leadership that have significantly improved healthcare both in Wales and beyond.

This year, a third of the accolades were bagged by professionals from Cardiff and Vale, Swansea Bay, and Cwm Taf Morgannwg health boards.

Award recipients included Catherine Washbrook-Davies, All Wales nutrition and dietetic lead for diabetes, who triumphed for her strategic utilisation of expertise to create an intervention service for Type 2 diabetes patients in remission. She was given the Welsh Government Award for Value-Based Care.

Sophie Roberts-Kozok, senior operating department practitioner for anaesthetics – wellbeing lead, earned the Rising Star Award for prioritising team wellbeing, crucial for improved patient safety and theatre efficiency.

Tomos Goodwin, a specialist physiotherapist from Swansea Bay University Health Board also gained the Rising Star award for his early career leadership, setting up a menopause education and exercise group within the hospital gym.

Helen Nicholls, head of nutrition and dietetic services at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, took home The Allied Health Professions Clinical Leadership Award for her significant contribution to healthcare with more than 20 years of service, including the establishment of diabetes education programmes.

Lastly, the father-daughter duo of Paul Lee, consultant clinical scientist, and Jordan Lee, undergraduate admin assistant, both from Swansea Bay University Health Board, received the Award for the Best Collaboration across Clinical, Academia and Industry.

Their dedicated collaborative work has led to the creation of an e-learning course, adopted by the National E-Learning for Health Portal, that provides guidance for the safe handling and use of medical gases and cylinders.

This innovation will lead to improved safety for both patients and healthcare staff.

Eluned Morgan, cabinet secretary for health and social care, lauded the awardees.

She said: "A big congratulations to all the NHS Wales allied health professionals and healthcare scientists who won awards at the UK’s Advancing Healthcare Awards this year!"

She added, "The winners should be very proud of themselves.

"The breadth of talent illustrates the valuable contribution and dedication of these professions in keeping people well and improving outcomes in Wales and beyond."

Ruth Crowder, Wales’ chief allied health professions advisor, also commended the awardees, and asserted that healthcare scientists and professionals are essential to health and care services in Wales.

On the same note, Dr Delia Ripley, Wales’ deputy chief scientific adviser for health, expressed that the Advancing Healthcare Awards provided an opportunity to highlight the invaluable and creative work performed by allied health professionals and healthcare scientists.

Now in its 19th year, the awards annually acknowledge the dedication of allied health professionals and healthcare scientists.