A tribute to Sir Brian Gerald Barratt-Boyes (1924 - 2006)

A tribute to Sir Brian Gerald Barratt-Boyes (1924 - 2006)

Sir Brian Gerald Barratt-Boyes

1924 - 2006

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Always in our hearts

This memorial site was created in memory of, Sir Brian Barratt-Boyes, who was born on January 13, 1924 and died on March 8, 2006.

Pioneering heart surgeon Sir Brian Barratt-Boyes is now at rest. He died today while undergoing a heart valve operation in the United States.

Sir Brian has long been recognised as one of our Kiwi Greats. He and his medical team at Auckland's Greenlane Hospital achieved international acclaim for the work they did. In the course of this he earned the utmost respect of his collegues and the love and grattitude of his patients.

Sir Brian was recognised as a man with a strong single focus on the goals he set, a personality trait recognised by Christiaan Barnard in the introduction given by him to Barratt-Boyes' 1986 biography "From the Heart". Barnard said:

"I had the privilege of meeting Sir Brian at Green Lane Hospital in Auckland where his surgical unit had achieved an international reputation. What struck me was his single-mindedness - a clear-sighted striving towards a goal and a vision.

"Little wonder that he refused to suffer bureaucratic limitations on his work and plans. Having gone down that same road, I can identify strongly with his epic fights with bureaucracy for a better deal for his unit and an improved health service for his country.

"Fame he had, fortune he spurned - turning down lucrative overseas offers and preferring instead to stay with the team he had built up and the country of his birth."

Sir Brian made history by developing techniques to replace defective heart valves, which attracted immense overseas attention and brought many patients to New Zealand. He also found new ways to treat babies born with heart defects.

He held the post of Head of the hospital's Heart Surgery Unit for almost a quarter of a century and was Knighted at the age of 47 for his outstanding contribution.

Only last year Sir Brian received a Distinguished Alumini Award from the Mayo Clinic in the United States. The award acknowledges and shows appreciation for the national and international contributions and accomplishments made to the field of medicine in medical practice, education and research.

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Message from moira Trickey - Patient
on:05/01/2012
I would like to say thank you and god bless you you operated on my mum when she was a small girl now she my mum and grandmother thank you so much for my mum may god bless your family like he blessed my mum

Message from Barbara Kean-Williams - patient
on:11/04/2011

I first met Dr Brian Barrett-Boyes when a patient at Greenlane, in June/July 1960.

I had a congenital heart defect in which he and his team carried out partitioning of the single ventrical. I owe my life to Sir Brian and his team, having been the first one in the southern hemisphere to have had this particular type of surgery.

Now having lived into my six decade, something which was not supposed to have happened, I remember Sir Brian with great fondness, and am fortunate to have met such a brilliant person. I am, like others, are living proof of how special a person Sir Brian was

Barb Kean-Williams (nee Kean, of Wellington).

Message from Thomas Peter Phillips - patient
on:14/11/2010

Around about Easter 1959 Sir Brian operated on me for a hole in the heart, I was 13 years old. My father was told that the operation would be a 50-50% as to whether I would pull through.

I would like to know if I am the oldest living patient that Sir Brian operated on, since it was back in 1959. Would someone be able to check this for me please.

There was an article after my first operation in 1959 by the Auckland Star newspaper, they did a feature on me and Sir Brian who was my surgeon. I have lost this article, and wondered if at all possible if someone would be able to track this article down for me, it would be very interesting to see what they had to say about such medical heart surgery that led the way, compared with such surgery today.

I had a Coartation done when I was 23 year old, again this was done in Greenlane Hospital by Sir Doctor Robb. I attribute my long and health life (I am now 64 years of age), to both of these very fine surgeons.

Message from Uesiliana Elisara - my surgeon
on:21/09/2010

My name is Uesiliana Elisara... Im from Samoa..I had the priviledge of meeting Sir Brian Barrat-Boyes when I was his patient in 1974...I had what they called congenital heart desease/tetralogy of fallot...Ever since my operation on July 23rd 1974, in Greenlane Hospital I have never had any faults..You will be missed dearly Sir Brian

Message from Daryn Wilkin - Patient
on:28/10/2009
I first met Sir Brian while I was a patient at Greenlane Hospital. I had been treated with sub acute SBE and needed a Aortic Valve replacement as a result of the bacterial infection damage that the valve had suffered. I met Sir Brian the day before (my surgury was August 30 1988) and we talked about the operation. He really put my mind at ease and I felt pretty relaxed about the pending procedure. The next morning Sir Brian met with my perants and he recognised my father who had made several of Sir Brians' original surgical instruments. They were very comfortable in him doing what was needed, and I am more than pleased with Sir Brians' work as I still have the Aortic valve that he put in to this day, more than 20 years later. Thank You Sir Brian for the work that you did back in 1988. You will be missed.

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on 08/03/2006

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Brief Tributes to
Sir Brian

Tribute placed by
Lucy Happe
on 12/09/2011:
You are such an inspiration to all aspiring surgeons such as myself. Rest in Peace.

Tribute placed by
thomas peter phillips
on 31/08/2011:
thenking of you

Tribute placed by
Zaylin Thomas
on 23/06/2007:
I'm doing a project on you and you are a great man who changed so many lives for the better. RIP

Tribute placed by
Lee Drummond
on 22/07/2006:
Thank you from ALL the parents of heart children. A great loss to all. RIP

Tribute placed by
Jacqui Anderson-Jane
on 23/03/2006:
A privilege to have worked with you Sir Brian.God Bless you

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