Grimsby’s own Chris Hunter, a theatre nurse in her 70s and a supergran to her family, has been awarded the Humanitarian Medal by King Charles for her life-saving work in Gaza. Swapping the comfort of her knitting needles for the medical tools of her profession, Chris has made two trips to the conflict-stricken region with Manchester’s UK-Med, a frontline medical charity. As part of the UK Government’s humanitarian response to the crisis in Gaza, Chris has been leveraging her wealth of experience to provide vital support.
Despite her family’s concerns for her safety, Chris remains determined to continue her mission, even entertaining the possibility of another deployment to Gaza or Ukraine. For over three decades, she served the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps, and she continues her nursing role at Grimsby’s Diana Princess of Wales Hospital. Her regular roles are backfilled by UK aid, ensuring no impact on the NHS.
Chris’s commendable efforts have been instrumental in establishing two emergency field hospitals in Gaza, treating over 300,000 patients. Her dedication to her work was recognised by King Charles, a moment she describes as a ‘wonderful surprise and such an honour’. The situation in Gaza remains critical, with over 50,000 fatalities and 90% of the population displaced from their homes. The UK Government recently announced £17m in humanitarian funding to provide healthcare, food, and shelter across the Occupied Palestinian Territories, with £10m specifically allocated to support UK-Med’s life-saving work in Gaza.
Chris has served in various conflict zones including Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan, but her time in Gaza has been the most challenging due to the scale of human suffering. Despite the despair, she remains devoted to her work, recalling the constant sound of explosions as background noise and the relentless influx of patients. She commends her fellow British medics for their resilience and composure amidst the chaos, and remains hopeful for her future efforts.
This story was adapted by The Lincoln Post from original reporting by www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk.
