A public inquiry begins this week into disgraced surgeon Sam Eljamel, who allegedly harmed more than 200 patients during his 18-year career at a Scottish NHS trust.
The Shocking Scale of Medical Failures
Professor Sam Eljamel served as head of neurosurgery at NHS Tayside's Ninewells Hospital in Dundee from 1995 until his suspension in December 2013. During this period, he is accused of botching hundreds of operations, leaving numerous patients with life-changing injuries.
One of the most alarming cases involves Jules Rose, a mother-of-two who became a leading campaigner for patients allegedly harmed by Eljamel. In a catastrophic surgical error, Eljamel removed Ms Rose's tear duct instead of a brain tumour.
Ms Rose has been vocal in her criticism, previously accusing NHS Tayside of reaching "the threshold of criminality" while Eljamel was "armed with a scalpel." She currently maintains a list of 133 patients who have approached her claiming severe harm from Eljamel's procedures.
Inquiry Proceedings and Scope
The Scottish Government announced the inquiry into Eljamel's professional practice in September 2023, with terms of reference set by Scottish Health Secretary Neil Gray earlier this year.
This week's hearings will feature opening statements from several key figures including Jamie Dawson KC, senior counsel to the inquiry, and Joanna Cherry KC representing the patient group. Una Doherty KC will speak for NHS Tayside while Laura Thomson KC represents Scottish ministers.
The inquiry's remit includes examining:
- How NHS Tayside responded to concerns about Eljamel
- Whether patient protection systems were adequate
- Eljamel's career trajectory in Scotland
- His appointment as consultant neurosurgeon in 1995
- Complaints and feedback systems at NHS Tayside
Aftermath and Apologies
Following his suspension in December 2013, Eljamel resigned in May 2014 and removed himself from the General Medical Register the following year. He is understood to have been working as a surgeon in Libya as of November 2023.
In a significant development, NHS Tayside issued an apology in September this year for its handling of patient concerns regarding Eljamel. Dr James Cotton, executive medical director of NHS Tayside, stated: "We know that many people have experienced considerable distress as patients of Mr Eljamel and we understand that in many cases we have added to that trauma in the way that we have handled ongoing complaints and concerns."
Dr Cotton confirmed the board is "sincerely sorry for this" and fully committed to making improvements where failings have been identified.
The patient count continues to grow, with Ms Rose noting the number of allegedly harmed patients has reached 239, increasing dramatically overnight as more victims come forward.
