One of the most experienced and respected trauma surgeons in the world, Professor David Nott, has been awarded the Freedom of the City of London, in recognition of his outstanding achievements in surgery and charitable work.  

A full-time NHS consultant at St. Mary's Hospital Paddington, specialising in general surgery, vascular surgery, and trauma, David Nott has volunteered to perform surgery and train surgeons in disaster and war zones, including Afghanistan, Bosnia, Iraq, Libya, Sierra Leone, Gaza, and Ukraine, over the last 25 years.

His autobiography, War Doctor, became The Sunday Times bestseller in 2019 and describes many of his missions to hostile environments, in particular, Aleppo in 2013 and 2014.

Nominated by former Lord Mayor of London, Sir David Wootton, and City of London Corporation elected Member, Catherine McGuinness, David Nott attended his ceremony at Guildhall today with family members.

Speaking after his ceremony, Professor David Nott said:

“It is a great honour to receive the Freedom of the City of London. I have lived in London for all my consultant surgical life, which now spans over 30 years. It is a great city and it makes me proud to call myself a Londoner.”

Policy Chairman of the City of London Corporation, Chris Hayward, said:

“Courageous, committed, and hugely talented, David Nott is a very worthy recipient of the City’s award, and I send him my warmest congratulations on receiving the Freedom today.

“To have helped so many people over the years, to have saved so many lives, and to risk one’s own life to do that is beyond what most of us can imagine.”

Sir David Wootton said:

“David Nott is a truly remarkable man, not only for his consummate skill as a surgeon, but also for his bravery for travelling to war and disaster zones to work in such hugely challenging and dangerous conditions, and his enthusiasm in wanting to pass on his valuable skills to others.

“He deserves our admiration and utmost respect, and it is my privilege to support his Freedom award.”

Catherine McGuinness said:

“David Nott would undoubtedly baulk at being called a hero, but his colleagues in London and across the world must surely regard him as such, for his expertise in putting himself, quite literally, in the line of fire to treat life-altering injuries.

"It is so good to be able to celebrate what David has done to help.”

One of the City of London’s ancient traditions, the Freedom is believed to have begun in 1237 and enabled recipients to carry out their trade.

As well as being nominated for, or applying for, the Freedom, it is also offered by the City of London Corporation to individuals as a way of paying tribute to their outstanding contribution to London or public life, or to celebrate a very significant achievement.

Recent prominent recipients include Olympic and Commonwealth Games Gold- and Silver-medal winning athlete and sport ambassador, Lady Mary Peters; former Attorney General of England and Wales, Dominic Grieve; Chief Medical Officer for England, Professor Sir Chris Whitty; and actor and musician, Giles Terera.

ENDS

Notes for Editors

About the City of London Corporation:

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally successful UK –  www.cityoflondon.gov.uk

About David Nott and The David Nott Foundation:

Born in Carmarthen in south Wales, David Nott studied medicine in St Andrews and Manchester and while working as a junior doctor, he developed an interest in global surgery. His first mission with Médecins Sans Frontiers took him to Sarajevo in 1992-1993 during the Bosnian conflict. As a leading and hugely respected expert in war surgery, David Nott has now spent 25 years operating on the front line in many ongoing wars, which he has detailed in his bestselling autobiography, War Doctor.

In 2016, his wife, Elly, set up The David Nott Foundation to harness his knowledge and experience, and to bring together surgeons from across the globe to the Royal College of Surgeons of England and Edinburgh, where they are trained to be front line humanitarian surgeons. Where surgeons cannot come to the UK, the charity goes to them. Over the past eight years, the charity has been on over 60 missions abroad training well in excess of 2,500 doctors.  It has trained over 600 Ukrainian surgeons on the front line, performing over 16 courses. The hostile environment surgical training course also trains anaesthetists and obstetricians.