Today fourteen frontline medical responders, including NHS-trained medics who have delivered life-saving care in Gaza, will be among the first to receive the nation’s new Humanitarian Medal conferred by His Majesty the King at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace on 18 February.
The recipients, many drawn from NHS trusts across the UK, have worked with UK-Med. Several of them have been on the frontlines of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, where hospitals remain overwhelmed and medical supplies are critically low. Much of this work has been conducted by the UK Emergency Medical Team (UK EMT) which provides emergency healthcare in humanitarian contexts on behalf of the UK Government, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO).
The Humanitarian Medal recognises extraordinary service in response to humanitarian emergencies, and the UK-Med medics being honoured have played a crucial role in delivering emergency care in one of the world’s most challenging conflict zones.
David Wightwick CMG, CEO of UK-Med, said:
“These dedicated professionals have put their expertise to work in the most extreme conditions imaginable. Their commitment to saving lives, often at great personal risk, is a testament to the values of humanitarianism and medical excellence. The recognition from His Majesty is a moment of pride for all of us at UK-Med and a reminder of the critical role our medics play in global emergency response.”
Bringing NHS expertise to Gaza
Among those receiving the honour is Dr. Matthew Newport, 37, an NHS anaesthetist from Ramsbottom, Lancashire, who has deployed to Gaza five times in the past year. Dr. Newport, who also volunteers with the North West Air Ambulance, has been a key part of UK-Med’s field hospital operations since the crisis began.
“The devastation in Gaza is heartbreaking, and the scale of need is overwhelming. As clinicians, we go where we are needed most, and in Gaza, we have treated patients suffering from severe trauma injuries, burns, and blast wounds—many of them children. This medal is an honour, but the real recognition must go to the local medics who have been working around the clock under impossible conditions,” said Dr. Newport.
Another recipient, Melanie Johnson, 38, Deputy Health Director at UK-Med, has deployed to Gaza three times and previously worked in Türkiye after the 2023 earthquake and in Ukraine. She has helped lead UK-Med’s medical coordination efforts in Gaza, ensuring vital care reaches those most in need.
Emergency care under pressure
Working in UK-Med’s field hospital in Al Mawasi, Paula Tobin, 57, an NHS emergency nurse from Tavistock, Devon, has deployed to Gaza three times. A former British Army nursing officer, she has provided urgent care to patients in some of the most challenging medical conditions imaginable.
Nick Cairns, 60, a former British Army officer, played a key logistical role in constructing UK-Med’s field hospitals in Gaza. Having also worked with the World Health Organization, he has been instrumental in ensuring medical operations continue despite extreme logistical challenges.
Meanwhile, Andrew Kai Bona, an experienced humanitarian logistics specialist, has worked with UK-Med in Gaza since January 2024, overseeing the construction and maintenance of field hospitals. He has over a decade of experience working in conflict zones with NGOs.
Dr. Hareen de Silva, 39, a former NHS GP from Ilford, Essex, led UK-Med’s primary health field hospital in Deir el Balah from August to September 2023. Now working with the German emergency medical team Cadus, Dr. de Silva continues to contribute to frontline humanitarian efforts globally.
In addition to those deployed in Gaza, several UK-Med responders who served in other humanitarian crises will also receive the the HM Government Humanitarian Medal, including:
- Anna Daniell (based in Greater Manchester) – Libya floods
- Veronique Heyman (based in Greater Manchester) – Libya floods
- Shahana Moitra (based in Greater Manchester) – Libya floods
- Lorraine Esther Lloyd (based in Chester) – Libya floods
- Alessandra Morelli (based in Oxfordshire) – Libya floods
- Tom Godfrey (based in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire) – Morocco earthquake
UK-Med: A proud tradition of UK medical humanitarianism
Founded in Manchester, UK-Med has built a rapid-response network of NHS-trained professionals ready to deploy to global crises. The organisation is a World Health Organization-verified Emergency Medical Team, working with the UK Government and international agencies to provide life-saving healthcare in disasters and conflict zones.
The ceremony at Buckingham Palace will highlight the UK’s longstanding commitment to medical humanitarianism, while also bringing attention to the ongoing medical crisis in Gaza, where thousands remain in urgent need of medical assistance.
UK-Med has been working in the Gaza Strip since January 2024. It runs two field hospitals in Al Mawasi and Zuwaida respectively, both funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. UK-Med also supports the emergency department at Nasser Hospital with funding from the World Health Organization. UK-Med employs around 500 Palestinian staff in Gaza, supported by a small international team comprising mostly medics.
