In this episode of their Podcast In the Loop Niall and Roy step on to new ground in a fascinating discussion with Professor Tas Qureshi. a General and Gastro-intestinal Surgeon at Poole Hospital in Dorset. But Tas has another role – he has made a number of trips to Gaza as a volunteer, giving up his free time to support his fellow surgeons there as they deal with the most horrifying of trauma injuries, as well as helping to train staff in the treatment of cancer.  

This is a personal story, not a political statement but by telling it Tas hopes to highlight the plight of all those who are suffering, including so many children. In doing so he gives us a mental picture of what it is like to operate, medically and in every other way, in a war zone. 

You will have seen many terrible pictures of the suffering in Gaza, but this account, with words only, is in some ways more illuminating, more powerful. 

He reveals the impossible choices he and his colleagues face of which child to treat and which ones must be left to die, sometimes in agony, the so called safe houses which are not safe from bombs and bullets, and the resilience of humans in the face of impossible odds. 

Many UK doctors do incredibly valuable pro bonowork, but Tas is one of a smaller band who are also prepared to risk their lives to relieve suffering. And like Tas, they are not keen to promote themselves, but are keen to tell the story of what they have witnessed.