HUNDREDS of former cancer patients were at the heart of a special event at The Ark Conference Centre in Basingstoke, which celebrated 30 years of pioneering liver surgery.

More than 500 people travelled from near and far, including Italy and France, to attend the milestone event, and around 300 were former patients of the trailblazing team of consultant liver surgeons Merv Rees, Tim John, Fenella Welsh and Ben Cresswell.

The eldest surviving patient is Richard Nichols, now in his late 80s who was operated on 28 years ago. He and all the other former patients were delighted to be part of a memorable evening which showcased how the Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust liver surgery team are still leading the way on a medical journey that started in the late 1980s.

Mr Rees told how he pioneered the procedure of liver resection in the UK when many medical professionals said it couldn’t be done. After learning of the bloodless operating technique from eminent surgeon Johannes Scheele in Germany, Mr Rees brought the practice to Basingstoke – a development that has drastically increased survival rates for patients, with more than 3,100 patients operated on to date.

In emphasising the vital support for innovation and research that has been given by fundraisers, North Hampshire Medical Fund, Pelican Cancer Foundation, Innovation UK, and their patients, Mr Rees paid tribute also to the former patients who have raised more than £150,000 to help pay for equipment and research, and members of the multi-disciplinary team who are involved in various aspects of patient care and those who play key roles in compiling and producing vital patient information and data.

“We have developed a pretty impressive team, and we are privileged and humbled to look after people with really tough problems. We have always wanted to give people hope, and we are on a mission to be brilliant every time.”