Eljamel inquiry unable to compel rogue surgeon's evidence as NHS Tayside apologises

Credit: PA Wire/Andrew Milligan

By Nick Forbes and Rachel Keenan, PA Scotland, and Claudia Tanner

NHS Tayside has issued a formal apology to patients harmed by disgraced neurosurgeon Sam Eljamel, acknowledging it added to their trauma through poor handling of complaints, as a public inquiry revealed it cannot compel the absconded surgeon to give evidence.

The inquiry into Eljamel's practice has attempted to locate the former head of neurosurgery at hospitals in Libya where he is believed to be working, but has received no response to multiple approaches, counsel Jamie Dawson KC told a preliminary hearing in Edinburgh on Wednesday.

Dr James Cotton, executive medical director of NHS Tayside, said the health board was "sincerely sorry" for the way it had handled ongoing complaints and concerns from Eljamel's victims over many years, reports the BBC.

"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 said, acknowledging the years it had taken to reach this "significant milestone".