Damning report on surgeon's botched operations

A damning report has highlighted failures in how NHS Tayside oversaw a surgeon who harmed patients for years. 

Prof Eljamel, the former head of neurosurgery at NHS Tayside in Dundee, harmed dozens of patients before he was suspended in 2013. 

The internal Scottish government report into Prof Sam Eljamel, which has been leaked to the BBC, said the health board repeatedly let patients down. It outlined failures in the way Prof Eljamel was supervised and the board's communication with patients.

The report was commissioned last year over unanswered questions and concerns from patients Jules Rose and Pat Kelly.

Mr Kelly has been left housebound and Ms Rose has PTSD after the neurosurgeon removed the wrong part of her body.

After her operation in 2013, Ms Rose discovered that Prof Eljamel had taken out the wrong part of her body. He removed her tear gland instead of a tumour on her brain.

She still has not been told exactly when health bosses knew he was a risk to patients.

The latest Scottish government report said she should receive an apology.

The written apology she received from the board last month said it was sorry she "feels" there has been a breakdown in trust.

"I actually rejected the apology," she said.

Ms Rose said she wanted the chairwoman of the health board to explain why it will not offer a "whole-hearted apology" for its failures.

Scottish Conservative MSP Liz Smith called for a public inquiry, saying there had been a lack of accountability and the investigation had still not got to the truth.

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Source: BBC News, 3 November 2022