A doctor has led a team of reservists on a charity mission in Gambia to educate medics and treat hernia patients.

Private Michelle Tipping, a surgical registrar at Kingston Hospital, travelled to Farafenni last month because less than 20 per cent of hernias in rural Africa needing an operation actually receive surgery.

She was joined on Operation Hernia by Captain Hannah Wright and Captain Scott Farmery, also of Kingston-based 256 (City of London) Field Hospital (Volunteers), and five others.

The team raised £7,000 to carry out 100 hernias in 10 days, and renovated an operating theatre that was in a poor state of affairs.

Private Tipping said: “It is only now, being more senior in my surgical career, I am really able to start using my surgical skills for charitable work.

“As well as performing the surgeries, our role is to help to educate local people so they can continue to treat simple hernias when we depart.” For information about joining the TA (Medics), contact: 020 481 3400 or visit army.mod.uk