I would like to recognize Danni Wood for her courage, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to the values of compassion, inclusion, and respect.

While at the Glenfield Hospital bus stop, she witnessed two members of the public directing openly racist and discriminatory comments toward multiple colleagues from minority ethnic backgrounds as they boarded the Hospital Hopper service.

The comments were loud, offensive, and deeply upsetting, including statements such as, “People like that can’t even speak English. They shouldn’t be allowed to work here.”

Rather than remaining silent, Danni calmly and respectfully challenged the behavior, asking the individuals not to make such offensive remarks. In doing so, she demonstrated moral courage and stood up not only for her colleagues, but also for the values that underpin our NHS.

Despite then becoming the target of verbal abuse herself—including being insulted and told she was “not properly English”—she continued to act with dignity and professionalism throughout the incident.

Acts like this can often go unseen, but they make a profound difference. By speaking up against discrimination in a public setting, she showed exceptional integrity, advocacy, and compassionate leadership for others. Her actions helped demonstrate to colleagues from ethnic minority backgrounds that they are valued, supported, and not alone.

Danni exemplifies the spirit of the DAISY Nurse Leader Award through her bravery, humanity, and commitment to creating a safe and respectful environment for everyone.

She is a credit to her profession, her colleagues, and to UHL.