Surgeon who removed patient's tear gland instead of tumour 'may have harmed 200'

02 September 2023 , 17:45

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Sam Eljamel was suspended after the board were hit with numerous complaints (Image: cascadenews.co.uk)

A brain surgeon who removed a patient's tear gland instead of a brain tumour may have harmed over 200 patients, campaigners have warned.

Professor Sam Eljamel, who worked at NHS Tayside between 1995 and 2013, left his patients with life-changing complications after his botched operations. His victims are calling for a public inquiry after they suffered from the disastrous effects of his rogue actions.

He was suspended after the board put him under three months of “indirect supervision" but deemed the supervision as "inadequate." Despite facing a legal claim in February 2013, the doctor continued to operate on 111 patients in the six months that followed.

His former patient Maggie McMartin previously said her brain tumour surgery left her with a permanent drooping face. It was reported that Eljamel had cut through some nerves during the operation in 2005. "The operation was a disaster because the surgeon cut through some nerves, which meant the left side of my face drooped and my eyes wouldn’t shut," she recalled. "It took me a long time to accept what had happened to me, but my family tell me my face is my badge of honour."

Jules Rose received botched surgery from the doctor (Daily Record)

Jules is hoping for a public inquiry (Daily Record)

Jules Rose, whose tear duct was removed by mistake, says she is unhappy with the findings from the new NHS Tayside report into the incidents, reports Daily Record. Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland on Friday, Ms Rose said: “I currently have 133 patient names who have approached me who have been severely harmed. Of these 111 new patients, I only know five. So potentially, now, we’re looking at 239 patients that have been severely harmed under NHS Tayside and Professor Eljamel. Literally, this number has increased overnight."

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Ms Rose said independent reviews into patient experiences with Prof Eljamel “will not wash” with those impacted. She said: “All the patients know what’s happened to them, we don’t need to have what they’re claiming to be independent reports into their care. We need to get back to a public inquiry so that people can be put under oath to explain what exactly went on in NHS Tayside. We’re talking about from 1995, Eljamel was harming patients.”

In a statement released after the report was published on Thursday, Health Secretary Michael Matheson hinted at further action, but it is not clear if this could be the calling of a public inquiry or a reference to the independent commission being launched by ministers to support impacted patients. He said: “This is a thorough report and lays bare some of the failings in NHS Tayside’s response to concerns over Professor Eljamel. It is clear from this review that these were not acted upon with the urgency they deserved.

“What is important now is that those people directly affected are supported to find the answers they need, and that both staff and patients across Scotland know lessons are being learned. For that to happen properly, I have been clear that this needs investigation independent of both NHS Tayside and the Scottish Government. We will provide more details on this shortly.” Ms Rose said the Scottish Government “keep trying to deflect” from a public inquiry.

Eljamel was the head of the neurosurgery department in Ninewells Hospital (Daily Record)

A statement from NHS Tayside’s executive medical director, Dr Pamela Johnston, after the report said: “I have written to the patients who had their operation between June 21, 2013 and December 10, 2013 to inform them about the findings of the review and to sincerely apologise on behalf of the board. We are offering support to them in a number of ways and there is a dedicated team to help them with any questions and concerns they may have going forward. The Scottish Government review, which was reported in 2022, looked at the concerns of some patients of Professor Eljamel and gave recommendations to NHS Tayside, which included taking further action to investigate areas of ongoing concern of patients and the decision-making around the practical arrangements for the supervision of Professor Eljamel in 2013.

“Today’s report is the conclusion of that further action, but we recognise that many former patients remain understandably very upset and unhappy with what has happened. NHS Tayside apologises to former patients of the surgeon and remains committed to do whatever is required to support the independent commission which is being set up by the Scottish Government to respond to patients’ ongoing concerns.”

Scottish Conservative MSP Liz Smith said her party is “fully supportive” of calls for a public inquiry, adding that the Scottish Government must “urgently investigate the claims from Jules Rose that nearly 250 patients may have been affected”. Ms Smith added: “The scale of his disgraceful actions may be even more horrendous than first thought.” Ex-patients of the professor have been urged to contact TAY.patientliaisonresponse@nhs.scot with any of their concerns.

Monica Charsley