Medical Aid for Palestine: The Humanitarian Team Behind Islamic Help

When crises happen and health systems break down, many people just see numbers and headlines. But every life saved in Gaza, and in all our medical missions, is thanks to a dedicated team of doctors. These doctors face some of the most challenging situations with compassion, courage, and skill. They work long hours in busy hospitals, perform emergency surgeries during major incidents, and keep caring for patients even when supplies are low and hospitals are under pressure.

At Islamic Help, our humanitarian healthcare missions depend on these remarkable professionals. Each doctor brings both expertise and human connection, shaped by years of service in conflict-zone medicine and under-resourced environments. Their work is vital to strengthening Gaza's healthcare, supporting Palestine through crises, and delivering consistent medical relief in Gaza, where patients face overwhelming needs.

Here, you can meet the doctors who make our work possible. Their stories and dedication show the human side of emergency medical aid. Learn about their journeys and see how they bring life-saving care to people who need it most.

Mr Graeme Groom – Orthopaedic Surgeon Supporting Trauma Response in Gaza

Mr Graeme Groom is a respected orthopaedic surgeon with extensive experience treating traumatic injuries and complex fractures — skills urgently needed in Gaza’s overstretched hospitals. In a setting where blast injuries, crush trauma and severe fractures are tragically common, his expertise strengthens the broader system of humanitarian healthcare. It provides vital support to surgical teams working under constant pressure.

Since joining Islamic Help, he has become a key part of the emergency surgical team. He helps stabilise patients during major emergencies and supports busy operating room staff. Mr Groom brings calm leadership and strong commitment to every mission. His work is vital for medical relief in Gaza, giving patients with severe injuries the best chance to recover.

His dedication to working in conflict zones shows his long-term commitment to patient care, global health, and supporting Palestine during its most challenging times.

Click here to read more about Mr Graeme Groom.

Dr Victoria Rose – Specialist Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon

Dr Victoria Rose is a well-known plastic and reconstructive surgeon whose humanitarian work covers conflict zones, global emergencies, and specialised care for children. She is known for her leadership, skill, and compassion. These qualities make her essential during missions where patients have severe injuries, burns, and complex wounds.

On deployment, Dr Rose supports surgical teams facing an unrelenting flow of critical cases. She provides expertise in reconstructive procedures that help restore function, mobility and dignity to injured patients. Her ability to treat both adults and children with equal care underscores Gaza's long-term impact on healthcare, especially in areas with limited specialist services.

Her humanitarian work demonstrates both surgical skill and a strong dedication to supporting Palestine and its communities during crises. She plays a key role in ensuring patients receive specialised care, even when local hospitals are overwhelmed.

Click here to read more about Professor Victoria Rose.

Dr Andy Ferguson – A Humanitarian GP With Over 14 Years in Gaza

For over fourteen years, Dr Andy Ferguson has been a key figure in humanitarian medicine in Palestine. As a GP and public health expert, he combines hands-on care with a deep understanding of health systems under siege and conflict. His long service makes him one of the most experienced and trusted international doctors in the region.

Dr Ferguson does much more than daily patient care. He supports local hospitals, helps with emergency planning, and strengthens public health in communities facing extraordinary hardship. His ongoing commitment is central to Islamic Help’s long-term medical relief in Gaza, bringing stability, teamwork, and continuity to healthcare needs.

Palestinian medical staff deeply respect him and see him as more than a colleague. He is a dedicated partner in providing essential care during some of Gaza’s most challenging times. His story shows resilience, compassion, and the value of steady, long-term humanitarian support.

Click here to read more about Dr Andy Ferguson.

Professor Tom Potokar OBE – One of the World’s Leading Burns Surgeons

Professor Tom Potokar OBE is known worldwide as a leader in burns care, reconstructive surgery, and the development of medical capacity in low-resource settings. With decades of humanitarian experience, he has improved burns treatment globally and continues to make a significant impact in emergency medical aid.

His work with Islamic Help highlights both surgical excellence and a strong commitment to empowering local healthcare teams. In Gaza, where burns and blast injuries are far too common, his expertise is critical. But beyond performing operations, Professor Potokar invests heavily in training local surgeons, nurses and therapists, ensuring that the impact of each deployment continues long after the mission ends.

His approach helps build long-term strength in Gaza’s healthcare and is a strong example of how humanitarian work can create lasting change, even in conflict zones.

Click here to read more about Professor Tom Potokar OBE.

Mr Basil Budair – Consultant Anaesthetist Supporting Frontline Surgery

Mr Basil Budair is a respected consultant anaesthetist known for his trauma care skills and calm leadership during emergencies. With experience in both the UK and conflict zones, he plays a key role in operating rooms that handle many severe injuries.

During his deployments with Islamic Help, Mr Budair has become one of the most trusted and relied-upon figures in frontline medical missions. His ability to manage complex cases, stabilise critically injured patients and support surgical teams in high-pressure environments has saved countless lives.

His work sets the highest standards in humanitarian healthcare and makes him a key part of ongoing medical relief in Gaza and of efforts to support Palestine during the crisis.

Click here to read more about Mr Basil Budair.

Honouring Their Service, Amplifying Their Impact

Each of these doctors shows the best of humanitarian medicine. They combine skill with empathy and choose to work where help is needed most. Their stories show courage, sacrifice, and the lasting importance of skilled healthcare during a crisis.

By reading their stories, you learn about the people behind our work, the surgeons, doctors, and specialists who bring life-saving care to those who need it most. Their commitment strengthens healthcare in Gaza, supports communities in need, and shows the heart of Islamic Help’s mission.

With your support, these doctors can keep providing vital care, helping local teams, and saving lives in Gaza and beyond.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What do Islamic Help’s doctors do in Gaza?

Islamic Help’s doctors provide essential medical relief in Gaza, including emergency surgery, trauma care, anaesthesia, burns treatment, and reconstructive procedures. They support overwhelmed hospitals, strengthen local medical teams, and help deliver life-saving care during conflict. Their work ensures patients receive expert treatment even when healthcare systems are under extreme pressure.

How does Islamic Help support healthcare in Palestine?

Islamic Help supports healthcare in Palestine by deploying specialist doctors, supplying hospitals with vital equipment, and strengthening long-term medical capacity. Through emergency missions, training, and humanitarian healthcare programmes, Islamic Help helps ensure Palestinians receive consistent access to critical care, even during crises that disrupt hospitals and limit resources.

Why is medical aid so important in Gaza right now?

Medical aid is crucial in Gaza due to severe shortages of equipment, overcrowded hospitals, and the high number of trauma injuries caused by conflict. With limited resources and overworked medical staff, external support is essential to maintaining life-saving services. Humanitarian healthcare missions help bridge this gap and provide urgent treatment.

Who are the doctors working with Islamic Help?

Islamic Help’s medical team includes world-class surgeons, anaesthetists, GPs, and specialists in trauma, burns and reconstructive surgery. These doctors volunteer their time to provide emergency medical aid in Gaza and other conflict zones. Their expertise strengthens local healthcare systems and ensures patients receive high-quality, compassionate treatment.

How can I support medical relief in Gaza?

You can support medical relief in Gaza by donating to Islamic Help’s emergency healthcare programmes. Contributions fund surgical missions, medical supplies, hospital equipment and specialist doctors treating trauma injuries. Your support helps save lives, strengthens Gaza’s healthcare system and ensures patients receive the urgent treatment they need.

Are donations to Islamic Help used directly for medical missions?

Yes. Donations to Islamic Help are used to fund frontline medical missions, hospital support, equipment, emergency surgery and essential supplies. Each contribution helps specialist doctors deliver life-saving care in Gaza and supports long-term improvements in Palestine’s healthcare system. Transparency and impact are central to Islamic Help’s approach.