Victims of disgraced Dundee surgeon Sam Eljamel protest 'severe delays' in police investigation

Victims of a disgraced brain surgeon have blasted “severe delays” in the police investigation into complaints made against the Dundee doctor.

Dozens of Professor Sam Eljamel’s former patients gathered outside the Police Scotland building in Dundee on Wednesday to protest over the delays.

The protest aimed to draw attention to “severe delays” in the police investigation into complaints submitted regarding neurosurgeon Sam Eljamel and his employer NHS Tayside.

Prof Eljamel worked at NHS Tayside from 1995 until he was suspended in 2013, after carrying out countless botched operations.

The Patients’ Action Group for Eljamel Public Inquiry estimates 196 people suffered “life-changing” injuries at the hands of the “rogue” surgeon.

The campaign group said that many complaints were submitted over five ago adding that police “upgraded their investigations” after a Public Inquiry was opened in September 2023.

Despite the inquiry, the group accused Police Scotland of “kicking complaints down the road” adding that investigations with “lesser scale” seem to be urgently dealt with.

Jules Rose, lead patient in the campaign group, said that around 100 formal complaints have been made to Police Scotland about their injuries, but appear to have “not been heard”.

Ms Rose was one of dozens injured by Eljamel, who removed her tear duct instead of a brain tumour in 2013 after he should have been suspended.

She said that patients have been “left in limbo” since the investigations began in 2018.

“Patients feel on death row. There seems an absence of any urgency or commitment from the police,” she said.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said that enquiries are ongoing, adding that the “extremely complex” case is being investigated by specialist officers from the Major Investigation Team.

Ms Rose added that NHS Tayside enabled the surgeon, saying that the campaign is about “public safety”.

“I believe we have evidence that reaches the threshold of reckless conduct, yet those responsible continue to walk free, potentially putting others at risk,” she said.

“Eljamel may have fled, but others could follow suit or evade justice entirely.

“They do so with their taxpayer funded big fat pension pots.”

Eljamel is currently believed to be operating in Libya after he was suspended.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We are aware of a protest planned outside Bell Street Police Station in Dundee on the afternoon of Wednesday, May 22, 2024.

“We have been in contact with the organisers to agree an area where protestors can assemble safely and local officers will be available on the day to assist with traffic management or any other requirements.”