Consultant anaesthetist from Belfast receives MBE for work with Mercy Ships

A consultant anaesthetist from Belfast has been awarded an MBE for his work with Mercy Ships, the Christian medical charity. Dr Michael McBrien, who works at the Royal Victoria Hospital, was presented with the honour by the Princess Royal at Windsor Castle as part of the King’s Birthday Honours.

Mercy Ships was founded in 1978 and operates two hospital ships that sail the coasts of Africa, providing life-saving and life-changing treatment to people who need it. Each year, around 2,500 medical professionals volunteer their services and travel with the ships. According to the charity, safe surgery is unavailable, unaffordable, or both, for 90 per cent of people in sub-Saharan Africa. This year, Mercy Ships conducted 3,000 life-changing surgeries.

Dr McBrien has worked with the charity since 2011 and this year signed up for his 16th stint with it. He recalled one patient in particular, Sambany, who had the largest facial tumour the medical team had ever seen. Six of his friends took turns carrying him on their backs as they walked for two days to reach the ship for help (Matthew 25:35).

Dr McBrien said he remembered anaesthetising Sambany and spending the day with him in theatre while the surgeons operated. The following morning, he removed the breathing tube, and over the next two weeks he saw Sambany make what he described as a miraculous recovery. “It was truly life-saving surgery,” he said.

Dr McBrien said he felt “quite emotional” on learning he had been awarded the MBE. He described himself as a small part of a larger team, saying, “I’m just a small cog amidst an incredible crew who serve on board, so I’m happy to receive this award on behalf of all the volunteers.”

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