A surgeon who pioneered life saving cancer surgery in Basingstoke has been recognised in The Queen’s New Year Honours

Myrddin “Merv” Rees was awarded an OBE in the list, published on December 30, with his honour being given “for services to liver cancer surgery.”

The father of three pioneered the technique of liver resection, where part of the liver is removed to cut out cancerous growths, which has “drastically increased survival rates.”

He said: “When I received the news, my first thoughts were about my team, the people I have worked with, and the thousands of patients we have been able to help over more than 33 years.

“From the outset, I was fortunate to work in a hospital in Basingstoke that supported innovation, and with colleagues throughout England who referred patients despite the scepticism of so many doctors.”

“This award is a great personal honour but at the same time, it is recognition of the outstanding work that has been done in Basingstoke by my liver surgery team colleagues Tim John, Fenella Welsh and Ben Cresswell.

“It is also testament to the amazing contribution of the anaesthetists, interventional radiologists, diagnostic radiologists, hepatologists, gastroenterologists, specialist nurses, the whole theatre teams, theatre recovery teams, intensive care and ward-based nursing teams, plus our loyal and hard-working secretarial and support staff here in Basingstoke, who I have worked with for more than 33 years.

“I am also grateful to all the clinicians nationally and internationally, who recognise our work and who have referred, and continue to refer, patients to Basingstoke over the years.

“I am honoured and grateful to lead, and be part of, an impressive team that has been able to have such a positive, and often life-saving, impact on so many people. We never forget that we are privileged to look after people with really tough problems, and we always aim to give them hope.

“I am grateful to everyone who has been involved in making Basingstoke a beacon of excellence for liver surgery. I am also thankful to the ¬many wonderful patients who have supported the team’s work over many years. Their kind and generous backing has helped to fund vital equipment and research.”

The OBE, or Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, is awarded by the monarch on behalf of the government to recognise those who have played a substantial role in their field.

Merv, who is a fellow of The Royal College of Surgeons, is a leader in the field of Hepatobiliary - liver and bile duct surgery.

In the 1980s, he pioneered the procedure of liver resection in the UK, which was thought by some to be impossible at the time. After studying with German surgeon Johannes Scheele to learn the bloodless operating technique, Mr Rees brought the practice to Basingstoke, with well over 3,100 patients operated on to date.

Merv is also a Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire, and a trustee of Ark Cancer Centre Charity, The Pelican Cancer Foundation, and The Ark Medical Trust. He is described as the “driving force” behind the £7 million fundraising appeal that led to the building of The Ark Conference Centre – a leading centre for medical education at Basingstoke Hospital.

He continues to fundraise for the site, with his goal now an interim supportive care unit which will support cancer patients and their families at the hospital.