Retired Freeman Hospital surgeon Asif Hasan has received a Pride of Britain Lifetime Achievement award after a career in which he helped save thousands of children’s lives.
Dr. Hasan led more than 3,000 major procedures and carried out more than 4,000 operations during his career. He also helped establish the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle as a leading international centre for paediatric heart surgery, Chronicle Live reported.
The award was presented at the 2026 Pride of Britain Awards, which will be broadcast on ITV1 and ITVX on Thursday, October 22.
Dr. Hasan operated on children including Seb Hollingsworth, who was born with tetralogy of Fallot and underwent his first heart operation when he was just weeks old.
He later had a second open-heart operation under Mr Hasan’s care at the age of 13, which featured on Channel 4’s Geordie Hospital.
He also treated former Pride of Britain Children of Courage winners Max Johnson and Cecilia Adamou.
Max spent seven months on the waiting list for a heart transplant before a donor was found. The donor was later identified as Keira Ball, a child who died in a road collision. Max’s campaigning, together with the selflessness of Keira’s family, helped lead to the introduction of what is now known as Max and Keira’s Law, which changed organ donation to an opt-out system.
Saving Lives
Dr. Hasan was appointed as a consultant at the Freeman in 1995 and went on to lead the hospital’s paediatric transplant programme.
His work included pioneering transplantation and introducing mechanical heart support devices such as the Berlin Heart, which can keep seriously ill children alive while they wait for a donor organ.
He also helped develop the “bootlace closure” technique, allowing surgeons to transplant donor hearts that might otherwise have been considered too large for a child.
Across his career, Hasan carried out around 400 heart transplants, led more than 3,000 major heart operations and acted as second surgeon on a further 1,000 procedures. He also trained generations of children’s heart surgeons in Britain and overseas.
His work extended beyond the Freeman Hospital. He helped run surgical camps overseas through charities and supported treatment for children in deprived areas.
Despite his achievements, Hasan said the greatest reward had been seeing children recover and go on to live full lives.
He said: “I am deeply honoured and humbled to receive this award. Caring for children with heart conditions and supporting their families has been a privilege throughout my career. Any success I have achieved has only been possible because of the incredible teams I have worked alongside at the Freeman Hospital over many years.
“Seeing children go on to live full and happy lives has always been the greatest reward. I am grateful to every patient, family and colleague who has been part of that journey.”
Dr. Hasan also reflected on the difficult moments of his career.
He said: “There have been big highs and big lows.
“My heart swells when I hear about a survivor doing so well, but I do remember all the traumatic cases where someone died.
“I’ve seen human misery up close, but also human resilience and courage.”
He said his proudest achievement was ensuring that his work could continue after his retirement.
“One of my abiding resolves was that when I stopped work, nobody would miss me. It’s the art of becoming redundant,” he said.
“I wanted to train people so that they are not only competent, but better than me, and that’s what I have achieved. That is my proudest achievement.”
Enormous Difference
Sir James Mackey, the NHS England chief executive, said Dr. Hasan was a deserving winner.
He said: “Asif has dedicated his life’s work to transforming the lives of children and their families, and I couldn’t think of a more worthy winner for this award. Not only has he helped save thousands of lives, but he has championed the work of others, pioneered a world-leading paediatric transplant service, and put Newcastle Hospitals firmly on the map.
“He is a truly remarkable individual – compassionate, kind and respected – a testament to everything the NHS stands for and the staff who come to work every day to improve the lives of others, and we’d all like to wish him huge congratulations on receiving this award.”
Rob Harrison, acting chief executive at Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust, said the award recognised an exceptional career.
He said: “This award is a fitting recognition of an extraordinary career and an exceptional individual. Asif’s contribution to children’s heart surgery and transplantation has been nothing short of remarkable.
“He has transformed thousands of lives through his clinical expertise, innovation and commitment to providing the very best care for children and their families. On behalf of everyone at Newcastle Hospitals, I would like to congratulate Asif on this thoroughly deserved honour.”
Nineteen of Mr Hasan’s former patients were reunited with him at the Pride of Britain ceremony to thank him for saving their lives.
Hasan said seeing his former patients again had been an “unbelievable feeling”.
“Each of them has their own story, and to see them, was a huge moment for me,” he said. “Suddenly there is a kaleidoscope of memories. They were all there.”
He compared his role to that of a bus driver, saying his job was “to take them safely from one point to another”.
Hasan said he planned to continue supporting surgical training through charity work in Pakistan and Nairobi.
Pride of Britain judges described Dr. Hasan as “the epitome of an unsung hero” and said it was “impossible to overstate the life-changing impact he has had for so many people over his extraordinary career”.
The annual awards have recognised extraordinary achievements across Britain since 1999, including the work of fundraisers, emergency workers, community champions and children who have shown exceptional courage.
Dr. Hasan retired earlier this year but continues to support and train surgeons who will carry forward his life-saving legacy.
