Medical Aid for Palestine: Dr Victoria Rose

Consultant Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon | Humanitarian Volunteer | Surgical Lead with IDEALS & Islamic Help

Dr Victoria Rose is a highly respected British consultant plastic and reconstructive surgeon and one of the key international volunteers supporting Islamic Help’s humanitarian surgical missions in Gaza. With more than 25 years of clinical experience in the NHS and a specialist background in complex trauma reconstruction, burns, shrapnel injuries and limb salvage, she brings world-class expertise to a hospital system under immense pressure.

Her work has been instrumental in providing lifesaving care to civilians, especially children, during some of the most challenging periods Gaza’s hospitals have ever faced.

A Specialist in Reconstructive Trauma Care

Dr Rose serves as a consultant at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College Hospital in London. Her field of expertise includes:

• Complex soft-tissue reconstruction.
• Paediatric burns and trauma.
• Microsurgical reconstruction.
• Shrapnel and blast-related injuries.

Her ability to treat multiple, severe trauma cases in rapid succession has made her an essential member of the humanitarian surgical teams deployed to Gaza.

Long-Term Commitment to Gaza’s Medical Community

Dr Rose first joined missions to Gaza through the charity IDEALS in 2019, where she contributed to the development and training of Gaza’s limb reconstruction specialists. During her early career, she mentored Palestinian surgeons in the UK and Gaza, building strong professional relationships that continue to this day.

Since 2024, she has undertaken multiple humanitarian missions, working in Gaza’s largest hospitals for weeks at a time, often under challenging conditions and with limited resources. Her deployments have included time at the European Gaza Hospital and the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis.

Delivering Lifesaving Surgery Under Extreme Conditions

Across her missions, Dr Rose has worked on high-volume emergency surgery lists treating:

• Severe burns.
• Blast injuries.
• Shrapnel and fragmentation wounds.
• Traumatic amputations.
• Complex paediatric injuries.

Her patients have ranged from newborns to older adults, with a significant proportion being children. During periods of intense escalation, Dr Rose and her team worked long shifts performing multiple operations per day, far more than would be seen in a typical UK clinical environment.

Supporting Gaza’s Doctors & Strengthening Local Capacity

Alongside surgical work, Dr Rose plays an essential role in supporting and mentoring Gaza’s medical teams. She works closely with Palestinian surgeons, nurses and trainees; sharing skills, guiding complex cases, and helping maintain services during extreme pressure.

Through her collaboration with IDEALS and Islamic Help, she contributes to a long-term strategy focused on:

• Strengthening Gaza’s reconstructive surgery capacity.
• Training junior surgeons.
• Supporting emergency preparedness.
• Improving care pathways for trauma patients.

This partnership ensures that each mission provides lasting benefit beyond immediate surgical interventions.

A Trusted Voice from Inside Gaza’s Hospitals

With foreign journalists frequently unable to enter Gaza, international medical volunteers have become essential witnesses to the humanitarian situation. Throughout her missions, Dr Rose has documented hospital conditions, resource shortages, and the extraordinary resilience of Gaza’s medical staff.

Her testimonies have been featured by major global broadcasters, medical organisations and humanitarian platforms, helping the public understand the realities faced by patients and clinicians.

Humanitarian Values at the Heart of Her Work

Despite the personal and emotional toll of her missions, Dr Rose remains committed to returning to support Gaza’s hospitals whenever possible. Her decision to volunteer, often at short notice, reflects her deep commitment to medical ethics, humanitarian service, and the protection of vulnerable civilians.

Her work aligns directly with Islamic Help’s vision: delivering high-quality medical care to those who need it most, strengthening local health systems, and ensuring that compassion, expertise and dignity remain at the centre of humanitarian aid.

Rebuilding Lives, One Patient at a Time

From treating children with severe burns to performing reconstructive surgery on trauma victims, Dr Victoria Rose’s work in Gaza continues to change lives under the most challenging conditions. Her dedication, skill and integrity help bring credibility and trust to Islamic Help’s medical missions, reassuring donors that their support directly enables world-class care for civilians who desperately need it.