A CONSULTANT from Basingstoke hospital is travelling to Africa to join a group of volunteers who will bring medical treatment to some of the world's poorest people.

Dr Keith Thomson, a consultant anaesthetist, will provide his services for charity Mercy ships for the 15th time after he was set to leave for Benin on Friday, November 19.

A team of about 400 medical workers will be on board the charity's Anastasis ship for two weeks in order to carry out a range of procedures, such as cataract operations and the treatment of large jaw tumours and burns.

Dr Thomson, 57, described the trip as the highlight of his year.

He said: "It is entirely self-funded and we carry out things like eye operations and work on cleft lips and clubbed feet.

"You get a lot out of it. You meet old friends on the ship and there are a lot of local people who are pleased with what we can do for them.

"There is no medical care for a lot of people in Africa.

"People queue up to see us - there can be up to 3,000 people sometimes."

The ships are staffed entirely by volunteers who provide their services free of charge and pay their own fees.

Dr Thomson, who lives in Overton, expects to deal with more than 100 procedures during his forthcoming two-week trip.

The doctor, along with a group of almost 50 others, represented the charity at The Lord Mayor's Show in London last Saturday.

Among those to offer their support at the show were staff from the hospital and The Hampshire Clinic, who carried banners showing before and after pictures of those treated by Mercy Ships to highlight the work of the charity.

A London double-decker bus used by the charity last weekend was decorated with images from Africa and featured a choir from Tooting.

Dr Thomson said he was pleased with the publicity the charity had received after it featured in BBC coverage of the event.

He said: "We had a brilliant time."

For more information, visit Dr Thomson's website www.africansmiles.com