The public inquiry into disgraced brain surgeon Sam Eljamel reaches a “watershed moment” today as evidence begins in Edinburgh, three years after the probe was first announced. Patients harmed by the former head of neurosurgery at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee say they want to see “real-time change” and potential prison sentences by the end of it.
First evidential hearings get underway
The first evidential hearings into Eljamel, who is believed to have harmed more than 200 patients, finally get underway today in Edinburgh. The first phase will look at whether a lack of documents hindered past reviews and investigations relating to Eljamel, who was suspended in 2013.
Though it’s considered unlikely Eljamel, who has since returned to his native Libya, will ever be brought back to face prosecution in Scotland, lead patient campaigner Jules Rose says it’s not impossible and she hopes all those who “enabled” the surgeon to harm patients will be brought to justice.
Campaigner calls for accountability
Rose, who discovered Eljamel had removed her tear gland instead of a tumour on her brain, said: “Never say never for Eljamel. Stranger things have happened. It would be folly of us to think he’s going to be brought back here and face the music and be locked up with the key thrown away. But we continue to keep going. We don’t know what’s around the corner.
“In terms of justice for us, we’ve still got the ongoing police investigation. It’s eight years now that we complained to Police Scotland and it’s atrocious that it has taken this long with not one single charge being brought.
“Is anyone going to face charges? I would like to see a few put behind bars for what they have enabled.
“Many have since sailed away with their gold-plated pensions, but these are the perpetrators who allowed Eljamel to commit this harm.
“These people need to be brought to the stand and asked a few hard truths.
“There are many failures that need to be scrutinised here.”
Witnesses and key evidence
The first phase of the inquiry will hear from representatives of NHS Tayside, the Scottish Government, the University of Dundee, and regulatory or professional bodies. The hearings had originally been scheduled for April, but were postponed due to safety concerns around the venue at Waverley Gate, which were only resolved in the last few weeks.
The first witness will be Liz Smith who in her former role as an MSP for Mid-Scotland and Fife represented a number of Eljamel’s former patients and helped to campaign for a public inquiry. The current chief executive of NHS Tayside, Nicky Connor, is also due to give evidence on Wednesday - when she is expected to be quizzed on the destruction of 40 theatre logbooks in July 2025 despite a ‘do not destroy’ notice being in place in relation to a public inquiry.
Eljamel was put under investigation and supervision in June 2013 but operated on Rose’s tumour two months later. The Royal College of Surgeons delivered an interim report on Eljamel in October 2013 and a final report two months later. But Rose was operated on again the day before Eljamel’s suspension in December 2013.
Patients demand meaningful inquiry
Rose said: “Friday’s evidence is an important day to me because, having been the last patient that Eljamel operated on, I really want there to be serious questions asked around the time-scale of the appointment of the Royal College of Surgeons, the interim feedback and most importantly the delivery of the reports.
“Eljamel could have been marched off those premises in October 2013 if not years before.
“I have been diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress disorder but that fuels me to see this to the bitter end.
“It’s been a long, arduous and tiresome journey to get to this point and what we can’t lose sight of is that behind this inquiry is hundreds of patients that have been brutally harmed by this monstrous person of a man, enabled by NHS Tayside. For many, their lives will never be the same. But this inquiry has to be meaningful and leave no stone unturned.”
“What we’re expecting is real-time change. We appreciate this inquiry is going to be a long investigation but we cannot wait for patient safety.”
Eljamel retired in May 2014 and removed himself from the General Medical Register in 2015.
Lord Weir, chairman of the inquiry, said: “Today marks another important milestone in the progress of this inquiry, and a watershed moment for all those who campaigned for it.
“Everyone engaged in the work of the inquiry has an interest in finding out what happened and what lessons can be learned.
“I remain committed to conducting an investigation which is robust, thorough and impartial.
“I hope that those interested in the Inquiry’s work will find this introductory set of hearings valuable and informative in setting the context for what follows in our work”.
An NHS Tayside spokeswoman said: “NHS Tayside remains fully committed to supporting The Eljamel Inquiry in every way it can.
“We recognise the significance of these proceedings for former patients, families and others affected, and we are approaching the evidential hearings openly, transparently and with our full cooperation. As the Inquiry’s work continues, we remain committed to assisting it constructively and respectfully.”
