Himalayan Hospitals tells the remarkable story of the two hospitals he built; Khunde Hospital in 1966 in the Khumbu region at the foot of Mt Everest, and Phaplu Hospital in 1975 in the Solu Valley. These hospitals were staffed by volunteer Doctors and their partners from New Zealand and Canada until they were eventually handed over to Sherpa Doctors.

Using letters written by these volunteers, and many subsequent interviews Michael Gill, a Doctor himself who worked with Sir Edmund from the beginning on these projects, has pieced together this fasinating history of a unique aid project. It has many threads: an honest and fresh insight into the life of Sir Edmund Hillary, a rich and real picture of Sherpa culture, and the transformative experiences of the volunteers, whose lives were often completely changed by their time working in the Sherpa communities.

Moving, insightful and ultimately inspirational, Himalayan Hospitals is a wonderful book, that has at its heart the integrity and humility of Sir Edmund Hillary, one of New Zealand's true heroes.