Full public inquiry into disgraced doctor who botched hundreds of operations

A full public inquiry will be held into a scandal involving a surgeon who performed botched operations on hundreds of patients in Dundee.

First Minister Humza Yousaf confirmed there will be a probe into NHS Tayside and Professor Sam Eljamel in what is a huge victory for campaigners.

Professor Eljamel worked at NHS Tayside between 1995 and 2013, when he was suspended by the board following three months of “indirect supervision” as a result of complaints – with the supervision deemed “inadequate” in a report released this week.

He also faced a legal claim in February 2013, but operated on 111 patients in the following six months.

He is currently believed to be operating in Libya.

Health secretary Michael Matheson said the disgraced surgeon could be extradited back to Scotland.

A group of protesters gathered outside the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday.

John Grant, who had surgery to remove a protruding disc in his spine 13 years ago, was among them.

The operation carried out by Eljamel caused irreparable nerve damage and led to a life of constant pain.

“I complained to him and was just rebuffed,” Mr Grant told STV News.

“I saw the other surgeon and was told parts of your spinal column have been severed, was told the simple facts that he’s messed your operation up and there was nothing they could do about it and that’s when I left and thought this is my life.”