A ONE-of-a-kind Basingstoke anaesthetist who dedicated himself to improving medical and surgical care in West Africa for more than 30 years has died.

Keith Thomson who worked at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospitals Foundation died aged 75 on April 19.

His journey with international Christian charity Mercy Ships started in 1990 when, as a newly appointed consultant anaesthetist, he read an article in the Daily Telegraph about the charity’s first hospital ship – the Anastasis. Within three days he went to see the ship for himself while it was moored at London Docklands. 

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During his tour, he was so moved by the charity’s determination to bring hope and healing to the world’s poorest countries through free surgeries and training that he decided he would volunteer for three weeks the following year when the ship was based in Tema, Ghana.  

He previously said: “Mercy Ships has been in my blood since the first time I volunteered for one of their ships in 1991 and I honestly believe it’s the best medical charity anyone could support.” 

Dr Keith went on to volunteer as an anaesthetist 24 times from 1991 to 2007 in more than 10 African nations. 

Dr Leo Cheng, a fellow Mercy Ships UK board member said: “Keith’s energy and fresh ideas in helping others with his medical and anaesthetic insight was second to none.  I benefitted from his extraordinary sense of mission and ‘can do’ spirit when he encountered barriers. 

“With his generosity, connections and singlemindedness, I had the privilege of helping Keith to buy surgical equipment for Mercy Ships and other African hospitals. It was such a joy and pleasure to be part of Keith’s team to source updated surgical equipment badly needed by surgeons in Africa.”

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His fellow Mercy Ships International board member, Lois Boyle added: “Keith was truly one-of-a-kind. His contribution to Mercy Ships was incalculable but his commitment to the people of Africa went well beyond Mercy Ships. Whether he was sponsoring someone to pursue their dreams to work in healthcare or supporting a former patient to find a job, his infectious passion for helping others knew no bounds.”

Mercy Ships UK chief executive Officer Joanne Balaam, said: “It is hard not to be inspired by Dr Keith’s insatiable desire to help people. For decades, he was an ardent supporter and advocate for Mercy Ships."