Latest news with #SamEljamel
Sunday Post
25-05-2025
- Health
- Sunday Post
Hospitals urged to probe extent of Eljamel influence in England
Get a weekly round-up of stories from The Sunday Post: Thank you for signing up to our Sunday Post newsletter. Something went wrong - please try again later. Sign Up Hospitals in England have been told to thoroughly check their records after The Sunday Post last week revealed the neurosurgeon accused of harming hundreds of Scots also worked in Liverpool. The Department of Health and Social Care has issued the instruction to all NHS Trusts where Libyan-born Sam Eljamel worked before he took up a post at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee in 1995. That will include the world-renowned Walton Centre for Neurosurgery in Liverpool, where he worked for four years. Last week we revealed the Walton's health officials refused to even confirm the rogue surgeon had worked there, citing 'data protection laws' ahead of their duty of candour to patients. And we can also reveal that despite glaring irregularities in Eljamel's CV and his concerning behaviour in Dundee, English health regulator the Healthcare Commission appointed Eljamel as a medical adviser from 2007 until 2009. The formal appointment gave Eljamel influence on the regulation of other clinicians and saw him advising the NHS across England on clinical standards. One of Eljamel's victims, former Radio Tay presenter Pat Kelly, 65, who says he has been left 'as helpless as a toddler', said: 'The very idea that a rogue surgeon under suspicion of harming so many patients could help shape clinical governance nationally is a scandal in itself. 'My operation took place in 2007 when, at the very least, others at NHS Tayside must have known things were far from satisfactory and patients were being harmed. 'He should have been under scrutiny from the irregularities in his CV alone, and by 2007 I'd be astonished if patients had not been coming forward with concerns about his competence too, given his behaviour during my surgery. 'This whole debacle signals a monumental regulatory failure at the very heart of NHS England as well as Scotland. It is why we need a national inquiry and why the Scottish inquiry must expand its terms of reference to include just what all the regulatory bodies knew and failed to do to stop Eljamel long before he was able to hurt hundreds of patients.' © Alamy Stock Photo Eljamel qualified in Tripoli before moving to Liverpool, where he wrote a number of research papers which are still available today with no warning of the accusations of harm to so many patents. He also worked in Dublin as a senior neurosurgical registrar. The BBC carried out checks on Eljamel's CV and found that although he claimed to have completed a fellowship at Hartford Hospital in Connecticut, nobody there had any record of it. Eljamel also claimed to be a visiting professor at the universities of Connecticut and San Diego, but when the BBC contacted them, the universities said this was not the case. Kelly added: 'It is chilling to think there were so many red flags in Eljamel's past, right there in his CV, but nobody seemed able to carry out the most cursory checks to catch them.' Last week Fife MP Richard Baker and his Liverpool Labour colleague Dan Carden demanded a national inquiry into Eljamel, calling for the Scottish judge-led inquiry to expand its terms or reference to include national regulatory bodies such as the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) so they can be examined on their failure to protect patients. Top Liverpool lawyer Ronnie Hutcheon said: 'It is utterly astonishing that Eljamel was able to remain in the powerful positions he held while there were so many concerns. 'I urge the Walton to now do the right thing and be transparent about what happened while he was working there. 'Patient safety is paramount in a situation like this, and I welcome the Department of Health ordering a review of records in all the areas where Eljamel worked. If anyone treated by him has concerns, they must come forward and get checked.' More than 200 Ninewells patients have come forward, sparking the Eljamel Inquiry, led by Lord Weir and bankrolled by the Scottish Government to the tune of over £1 million so far, before hearing any evidence. The inquiry has so far refused to include the HSE, sparking anger from victims. Jules Rose, 53, from Kinross, said: 'The more we learn about this scandal the more it points to national systemic failure to catch surgeons who cause harm and protect patients. 'We cannot tolerate this happening ever again, and we must get to the heart of why and how this was allowed to happen, and who is responsible.' The Department of Health and Social Care said while it has not yet received any reports of harm by Eljamel in England, it has 'instructed NHS trusts he is alleged to have worked at to thoroughly check their records'. Glenrothes and Mid Fife Labour MP Richard Baker said he has written to UK Government ministers 'urging them to ensure the HSE is engaged with the Eljamel Inquiry'. He added: 'Absolute credit to The Sunday Post for pushing Eljamel's background into the public domain, because relevant bodies in England are now reacting as a result.'
Sunday Post
20-05-2025
- Health
- Sunday Post
MPs demand UK-wide Eljamel inquiry after we reveal links to Walton
Get a weekly round-up of stories from The Sunday Post: Thank you for signing up to our Sunday Post newsletter. Something went wrong - please try again later. Sign Up The rogue brain surgeon accused of harming hundreds of patients operated for four years at the world-renowned Walton neurosurgical centre in Liverpool, we can reveal. Now MPs are calling for a UK-wide inquiry covering every hospital where Sam Eljamel worked. Liverpool Labour MP Dan Carden and Fife MP Richard Baker want the Scottish Government to bring in UK-wide bodies to the inquiry it announced last year. Carden said: 'The Scottish Government's inquiry is welcome. But I'm calling on it to expand this to all areas where Eljamel operated, so that we can properly identify the failings, learn real lessons, but most importantly – deliver accountability and justice for every victim.' More than two dozen of Libya-born Eljamel's patients came from Baker's constituency, and he is calling for the Health and Safety Executive to be included in the inquiry. He said: 'UK regulators such as the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) don't normally get involved in Scottish inquiries, but that's by convention only. An exception should be made in this case, given HSE has an essential role to play in scrutinising evidence and making recommendations.' Campaigners criticised officials at the Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust who have refused to even confirm that Eljamel worked there, citing 'data protection' laws ahead of a duty of candour to patients. It refused to answer our questions on how many patients, if any, were harmed by Eljamel, and whether they had carried out an audit of patient records. Eljamel's own CV confirms he was at the Walton from September 1987 until August 1991, during which time he published a large number of medical research papers. Pat Kelly, who suffered life-changing injuries at the hands of Eljamel, said: 'It is inconceivable that Eljamel could have harmed more than 200 patients while he was at Ninewells in Dundee but somehow managed not to damage a single patient when he was at the Walton. 'For years, Eljamel's Scottish victims here were lied to. We were told we were 'unique' and we were the 'only ones' this had happened to. We only discovered there were hundreds of us when the media picked up our stories. MP's must now ask if the Walton has done the same thing to patients there, and that is why their health officials are being so evasive today.' Kelly and other campaigners joined MPs calling for the Walton to carry out an audit to check on the health of every patient seen by Eljamel. He said: 'There are very few of us who us who did not require further surgeries and treatment as a result of the damage done by Eljamel at Ninewells. The Walton have a duty of candour as well as a duty of care to their patients. Their silence is unconscionable.' Eljamel also worked at two hospitals in Dublin before joining NHS Tayside's neurosurgery department at Ninewells Hospital, Dundee in 1995, rising to lead the department. As patients came forward with claims of botched surgeries, horror stories began to emerge questioning Eljamel's skill. Despite a 2013 review which found patients had been harmed, NHS Tayside failed to suspend him and instead allowed him to continue operating on patients 'under supervision' until the following year. In 2014, Eljamel resigned and moved to Libya where he continues to operate. After years of criticism, the Scottish Government agreed to a judge-led inquiry into the scandal. Victims are still likely to wait a further two years or more to know whether any charges will be brought by police, who are also investigating NHS Tayside over the case. Kelly, 65, said: 'This is one of the biggest health scandals Scotland has ever seen. But the news Eljamel operated for four years at a Liverpool hospital opens it up to being a national scandal, and that is the reason why the Scottish inquiry must now reconsider its terms of reference to include national regulatory bodies as a matter of urgency. 'We need to see the UK regulator being brought in to examine what went on before Eljamel arrived at Ninewells, including what happened in Liverpool and what was known about him there.' Kelly was operated on at NHS Ninewells in 2007 when Eljamel was supposed to carry out surgery on a thoracic disc problem The former radio presenter said: 'It was seven years later in 2014, when I had to undergo an MRI scan, that the terrible truth emerged. Major surgery had been performed cutting my body extensively, my ribs were cracked open and I was hours on the operating table, but Eljamel did not perform the surgery he was supposed to do. 'I was sewn back up and lied to for years by health officials. I'm now so disabled, I couldn't even pick a handkerchief off the floor. I'm in constant pain and my poor wife has to look after me like she would look after a toddler.' © Mhairi Edwards Fellow campaigner Jules Rose, 57, from Kinross, who had a tear duct removed by Eljamel instead of a brain tumour, said: 'All the relevant UK-wide regulatory bodies must now be involved in the Weir Inquiry or it will end up as nothing more than the contaminated blood inquiry carried out by Lord Penrose which was labelled a whitewash. 'We need to see a proper nationwide investigation by the appropriate regulator which will examine what Eljamel did at every single hospital he worked at in the UK, and that must include an audit to check exactly how many patients were exposed to harm.'
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Surgeon inquiry spends £1m before hearing evidence
More than £1m has been spent on a public inquiry into a disgraced brain surgeon that has not started hearing evidence yet, new figures show. The inquiry into Sam Eljamel, who harmed dozens of patients and left some with life-changing injuries, was launched last month and has racked up £1.08m in costs so far. Eljame was head of neurosurgery at Dundee's Ninewells Hospital until his suspension in December 2013. He resigned a year later and is now believed to be operating in Libya. The inquiry outlay was revealed by Holyrood's finance committee which is investigating the cost-effectiveness of public inquiries in Scotland. Public inquiry into brain surgeon Eljamel launched New Scottish parliament research suggests the total cost of all public inquires launched over the last 18 years, in today's prices, has been £230m so far. On 20 May, MSPs will begin their examination of what spending controls are in place to ensure the taxpayer is getting value for money from the statutory probes. They will hear from Prof Sandy Cameron, who was a panel member on the inquiry into historic abuse of children in care in Jersey. In his written submission, Prof Cameron said keeping on top of legal costs are a big challenge for all inquires. He said: "It has to be recognised that inquiries are a source of substantial income for some large legal firms and as such the question arises as to the extent to which they are motivated to keep costs to a minimum and within budget". The finance committee will also consider a written submission from the logistics and procurement support agency of the health service, NHS National Services Scotland (NSS). In its submission, NHS NSS said the "current processes for monitoring public inquiry costs are inadequate" and revealed it has spent £3.1m in responding to public inquiries, as well as providing around £9m in legal services to other health boards for doing the same since 2021. The health board suggest the introduction of mandatory interim recommendations in all public inquiries, as happens in the UK Covid inquiry, would help speed up improvements. NHS NSS also suggest that an independent advisory body could be established to support Holyrood in deciding whether a public inquiry should be held, and the best way to go about it. Alternatives to statutory inquires should also be considered, according to NHS NSS. It points to New Zealand where a Royal Commission was established to look at the country's response to Covid. This was chaired by an epidemiologist, with a former government minister and a treasury secretary as panel members, rather than a judge. The New Zealand Covid inquiry, which has cost around £7m so far, started in 2022 and its terms of reference include a deadline of completing by February next year. The Scottish Covid Inquiry has cost £34m so far and the UK Covid Inquiry is expected to top £200m. Questions have been raised about the cost-effectiveness of the inquiries in recent years but the Scottish government, which picks up the bill for running them, said they provided important opportunities to establish facts and learn lessons. All of the current public inquires have been supported in votes at Holyrood, as well as by families and campaigners. The Eljamel Inquiry, headed by Lord Weir, launched its terms of reference last month and is expected to begin full hearings later this year. The inquiry will determine whether patients were let down by failures in clinical governance, risk management, and complaints procedures, and to what extent Eljamel's private practice, research, and workload impacted on the care received by his patients within NHS Tayside. Lord Weir said the independent inquiry would be "fair and thorough" and put patients "at the centre" of the process. Most of the inquiry's costs to date have gone on staffing (£666,949) and legal services (£316,035). Cost of public inquiries to be examined by MSPs Scotland's public inquiries have cost nearly £200m Sick Kids opening delayed by unclear NHS design - report
BBC News
16-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Public inquiry into brain surgeon Eljamel spends £1m before hearing any evidence
More than £1m has been spent on a public inquiry into a disgraced brain surgeon that has not started hearing evidence yet, new figures inquiry into Sam Eljamel, who harmed dozens of patients and left some with life-changing injuries, was launched last month and has racked up £1.08m in costs so was head of neurosurgery at Dundee's Ninewells Hospital until his suspension in December 2013. He resigned a year later and is now believed to be operating in inquiry outlay was revealed by Holyrood's finance committee which is investigating the cost-effectiveness of public inquiries in Scotland. New Scottish parliament research suggests the total cost of all public inquires launched over the last 18 years, in today's prices, has been £230m so 20 May, MSPs will begin their examination of what spending controls are in place to ensure the taxpayer is getting value for money from the statutory will hear from Prof Sandy Cameron, who was a panel member on the inquiry into historic abuse of children in care in Jersey. In his written submission, Prof Cameron said keeping on top of legal costs are a big challenge for all said: "It has to be recognised that inquiries are a source of substantial income for some large legal firms and as such the question arises as to the extent to which they are motivated to keep costs to a minimum and within budget". The finance committee will also consider a written submission from the logistics and procurement support agency of the health service, NHS National Services Scotland (NSS).In its submission, NHS NSS said the "current processes for monitoring public inquiry costs are inadequate" and revealed it has spent £3.1m in responding to public inquiries, as well as providing around £9m in legal services to other health boards for doing the same since 2021. The health board suggest the introduction of mandatory interim recommendations in all public inquiries, as happens in the UK Covid inquiry, would help speed up improvements. NHS NSS also suggest that an independent advisory body could be established to support Holyrood in deciding whether a public inquiry should be held, and the best way to go about it. New Zealand approach Alternatives to statutory inquires should also be considered, according to NHS points to New Zealand where a Royal Commission was established to look at the country's response to Covid. This was chaired by an epidemiologist, with a former government minister and a treasury secretary as panel members, rather than a New Zealand Covid inquiry, which has cost around £7m so far, started in 2022 and its terms of reference include a deadline of completing by February next year. The Scottish Covid Inquiry has cost £34m so far and the UK Covid Inquiry is expected to top £200m. Questions have been raised about the cost-effectiveness of the inquiries in recent years but the Scottish government, which picks up the bill for running them, said they provided important opportunities to establish facts and learn of the current public inquires have been supported in votes at Holyrood, as well as by families and campaigners. The Eljamel Inquiry, headed by Lord Weir, launched its terms of reference last month and is expected to begin full hearings later this inquiry will determine whether patients were let down by failures in clinical governance, risk management, and complaints procedures, and to what extent Eljamel's private practice, research, and workload impacted on the care received by his patients within NHS Weir said the independent inquiry would be "fair and thorough" and put patients "at the centre" of the of the inquiry's costs to date have gone on staffing (£666,949) and legal services (£316,035).
The Courier
11-05-2025
- Health
- The Courier
EXCLUSIVE: Eljamel inquiry begins pursuit of disgraced ex-NHS Tayside surgeon
The judge-led inquiry into the work of disgraced ex-Dundee surgeon Sam Eljamel 'is making every effort' to track him down, The Courier can reveal. Inquiry bosses have written to hospitals in Libya where the rogue doctor is believed to have been practicing. Eljamel is accused of harming hundreds of patients while employed by NHS Tayside from 1995 to 2013 before later fleeing to his home country. We reported last year how the shamed medic has been building a growing empire in the Libyan city of Misrata where he continues to operate. Eljamel has been invited to apply for 'core participant' status by the inquiry, given his actions will be central to the whole investigation. The inquiry has also contacted medical legal defence groups to check if any of them are representing Eljamel. None have said they are. Mr Eljamel had not applied to core participant status to allow him to fully engage with the probe before the May 2 deadline. It is understood inquiry chiefs do not expect him to respond, but they are expected to make every effort to contact the disgraced doctor. As a public inquiry the judge has powers to compel potential witnesses to attend. Those who refuse to comply could be held in contempt. But in practice, the inquiry will be unable to force any relevant witnesses who are living overseas to engage. A spokeswoman said: 'The Eljamel inquiry is making every effort to get in contact with Mr Eljamel and will continue to do so. 'As an individual with a significant interest in the work of the inquiry, Mr Eljamel is entitled to apply for Core Participant status. 'The inquiry would welcome any such application. 'To date, the inquiry has made attempts to trace Mr Eljamel via organisations with which he has been previously associated and through known, former legal representatives. 'The inquiry is currently exploring options to deliver correspondence to him directly overseas. 'With or without Mr Eljamel's involvement, the inquiry seeks to provide answers as to what happened, what went wrong, and who was responsible.' In 2023, police officers leading the criminal investigation into Eljamel warned they fear he will never be extradited to Britain. Victims of the rogue surgeon want him to be brought back to Scotland to face justice. Labour Scottish Secretary Ian Murray told campaigners the UK Government's hands are tied until police decide if Eljamel's actions were criminal. But the foreign office may explore extradition if he is charged. Eljamel has made no secret of the fact he continues to practice in Libya. In December, fresh pictures posted by Al-Nahda Hospital in Misrata showed him operating on patients with back pain. In February 2023, he was seen mingling with colleagues while giving a lecture on brain tumours at a medical conference in Libyan capital Tripoli. Since fleeing Scotland the shameless neurosurgeon has also been photographed treating a baby. NHS Tayside – who employed Eljamel – is likely to be among the core participants. The inquiry is being chaired by senior judge Lord Weir. Jamie Dawson KC – who quizzed Nicola Sturgeon during the UK Covid inquiry – is the investigation's senior counsel.
