London: Pakistani born cardiac surgeon Dr Asif Hasan has been honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 Pride of Britain Awards for his contribution to paediatric cardiac care in the United Kingdom.
The award recognises Hasan's work treating children with congenital and other serious heart conditions over a career spanning more than 30 years.
According to reports about the recognition, Hasan has performed more than 4,000 open-heart operations and approximately 400 heart transplants during his medical career.
His work has focused on children requiring surgical intervention for conditions affecting the structure or function of the heart, including cases in which transplantation is necessary.
Paediatric cardiac surgery is a specialised field involving the treatment of heart conditions in infants, children and adolescents. Some patients are born with structural abnormalities that require surgery, while others develop conditions that may need long term treatment or transplantation.
Open heart surgery and heart transplantation are distinct procedures. The former can involve repairing defects or addressing other cardiac problems, while transplantation replaces a patient's failing heart with a donor organ. The figures reported for Hasan's career reflect his involvement in both areas of cardiac treatment.
Recognition at the Pride of Britain Awards
The Pride of Britain Awards recognise individuals across the United Kingdom for contributions in fields including healthcare, public service, community work and charitable activities.
The Lifetime Achievement category acknowledges sustained contributions over an extended period rather than a single event or accomplishment.
Hasan's recognition places attention on the role of specialist surgeons in treating complex childhood heart conditions and the contribution of Pakistani-born medical professionals working in Britain's healthcare system.
Hasan joined Newcastle's Freeman Hospital as a consultant cardiothoracic surgeon in 1995 and later led its paediatric transplant programme. He retired from clinical practice earlier in 2026. According to Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, approximately 3000 of his open heart operations were performed as lead surgeon.
He also co led the hospital's bridge to transplant programme, which uses mechanical heart support devices to maintain circulation in children awaiting donor organs.
His work included developing a surgical closure technique that enabled some children to receive donor hearts that would otherwise have been considered too large. He also trained cardiac surgeons working in Britain and overseas.
In a statement released by Newcastle Hospitals, Hasan credited the medical teams he had worked alongside and said supporting children with heart conditions and their families had been a privilege throughout his career.
The award was presented as part of the 2026 Pride of Britain Awards, broadcast on ITV on 22 October.
