Hereford County Hospital (Wye Valley NHS Trust) has won the Spirit of Britain Award at the British Muslim Awards 2025.
Dr Rashid Riaz of Hereford County Hospital told Your Herefordshire:
“I am delighted to share that Hereford County Hospital, part of Wye Valley NHS Trust, has been honoured at the British Muslim Awards 2025, having won the Spirit of Britain Award—a proud moment not only for myself as the nominee and recipient, but for our hospital and the dedicated NHS staff who serve our community.
“The hospital was first nominated in the Spirit of Britain category, and following an overwhelming show of support from people across Hereford and the UK during the voting stage, we were announced as the winner.
“I was proud to accept this award on behalf of Hereford County Hospital and Wye Valley NHS Trust.
“This recognition celebrates the tireless efforts of NHS health workers and the spirit of compassion, resilience, and unity that defines our hospital’s values. It highlights the commitment of our teams who go above and beyond every day to care for patients in Herefordshire and beyond.
“Many will also remember that I was featured in the news last year for providing life-saving emergency care to a fellow passenger during a flight—a story that made headlines globally and brought pride to Hereford.
“It is a privilege to represent our city and hospital on a national stage. I am grateful for the support of the community, my colleagues at Wye Valley NHS Trust, and all those who voted and supported this journey. This award is not just for me, it is a testament to the unwavering spirit of NHS workers across the UK.”
On January 9, 2024, Dr. Riaz garnered global attention for his heroic actions during a Ryanair flight from Birmingham to Verona.
An elderly woman on board suddenly experienced severe shortness of breath. Dr. Riaz swiftly monitored her oxygen levels, which were dangerously low, and administered oxygen from the plane’s supply.
His quick thinking and decisive action stabilised her condition until the flight landed, and the woman received medical care upon arrival. His heroic response was covered by major media outlets such as BBC, CNN, NYPOST, Daily Mail, Birmingham Live, Hindustan Time, Times of India, Yahoo News, Apple inside, NDTV, GizmoChina, Geo, ARY and many countless printed and social media around the world.
