A North-east MSP has urged the health minister to urgently consider opening an investigation into a former Tayside surgeon amid increasing patient complaints.
Alex Johnstone has written to Shona Robison as a number of Professor Muftah Salem Eljamel’s former patients continue to make serious allegations about his performance while he was employed by NHS Tayside.
Mr Eljamel, who was a consultant neurological surgeon in Tayside from 1995, was suspended from his post last year after a patient underwent surgery on the wrong spinal disc.
Mr Johnstone said: “There are now a considerable number of people who have come forward regarding the treatment they received from Professor Eljamel.
“It is not enough for NHS Tayside to wash their hands of these allegations by simply saying he no longer works for them.
“It is imperative that these cases are thoroughly examined.
“Personally I would prefer it if the Scottish Government stepped in and appointed an independent team to report on this so former patients can have absolute confidence in the process.”
Mr Johnstone’s constituency office and The Courier have received further complaints from former patients of Mr Eljamel over the past week.
The floodgates effectively opened when former Dundee radio DJ Patrick Kelly called for a public inquiry after claiming he was the victim of a “botched operation” by Mr Eljamel.
Fife woman Winnie Williamson also claimed her dance career was ended by the surgeon after bone shavings were left inside her following a back operation.
Since then many more people have come forward to say they were also left with long-term health difficulties following surgery by Mr Eljamel, who remains registered with the General Medical Council but without a licence to practise.
Mr Johnstone’s letter stated: “A point consistently made by those who have contacted me is the desire to see an investigation carried out so that not only can they receive the answers they seek but also so that any lessons learned from the process can be used in the future.”
A petition for a public inquiry has also been launched by cognitive behavioural therapist Kimi Cowie McCash from Dundee, who is supporting Mr Kelly’s campaign.
Mr Kelly said: “It’s great that people are rallying around and helping in every way they can. The public have been so supportive to me and understand that we must get to the bottom of this and quickly.
“People are contacting me on the Facebook page we set up, Seeking Answers from NHS Tayside, and some of their stories are truly shocking.
“This should be a warning. When things go wrong, sort it out quickly.
“Medical negligence is not victimless. I like many others have lost their quality of life and this needs to be addressed.”
Accident claims solicitors in Scotland are also dealing with a number of cases relating to surgery by Mr Eljamel.