'Every patient is special': Belfast anaesthetist awarded MBE by The Princess Royal for voluntary services

Dr Michael McBrien, a consultant anaesthetist from the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, was presented with a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal at Windsor Castle on Wednesday 28th October.

The award was announced in the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours for Michael’s voluntary services to the Christian healthcare charity, Mercy Ships. 

The Belfast anaesthetist has volunteered on the charity hospital ships bringing free, life-changing surgeries to women, men and children across sub-Saharan Africa since 2011. In September, he returned to the Global Mercy for his sixteenth service. 

“Every patient is special, but the one I will always remember is Sambany,” says Dr Michael. “He had the largest facial tumour we’d ever seen. Six of his friends took it in turns to carry him on their backs as they walked for two days to get to the ship for help.

“I remember anaesthetising him and spending all day with him in theatre as the surgeons operated. The following morning I took the breathing tube out and over the next two weeks witnessed his miraculous recovery. It was truly life-saving surgery.” 

Safe surgery is out of reach for 9 out of 10 people in sub-Saharan Africa, which means people like Sambany are robbed of years of healthy life for conditions that are easily treatable. Mercy Ships provides surgeries not typically available in-country, focusing on seven surgical specialities: maxillofacial/head and neck; reconstructive plastics; paediatric orthopaedic; general; paediatric; ophthalmic; and women’s health.

In the last year alone, over 3,000 life-changing surgeries took place across the two hospital ships.

“The work we do is beautiful and humbling to be part of,” explains Dr Michael. “Some of the volunteer crew have lived on board for years; other people like me arrive for a few weeks to support the long-term crew.” 

Each year, more than 2,500 volunteer professionals from over 70 countries serve on board a Mercy Ship, including surgeons, dentists, nurses, teachers, cooks, engineers, and others who dedicate their time and skills to accelerate access to safe surgical and anaesthetic care.

“I felt quite emotional when I heard the news of my MBE,” says Dr Michael. “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.

“This award is also in recognition of the incredible support I’ve received from Ballylinney Presbyterian Church, which my wife and I have been members of for the last 30 years.”

Having served with Mercy Ships in Sierra Leone, Togo, the Republic of the Congo, Madagascar, Benin, Cameroon, Guinea and Senegal, Michael most recently returned from Ghana in September after spending three weeks volunteering on the Global Mercy. 

To find out more about Mercy Ships, visit mercyships.org.uk