Butcher surgeon Sam Eljamel's victims hit out at further delays to reviews of botched ops

Victims of butcher surgeon Sam Eljamel have hit out at more delays to promised vital reviews into their treatment.

Campaigners who have been battling for the surgeon’s actions to be investigated for years say they’ve now been told clinical reviews of hundreds of cases will not begin until at least next month despite promises from government they’d start six months ago.

Jules Rose, the lead representative of the group of patients affected by the Tayside surgeon, said: “We need these clinical reviews to start for patients now. They don’t have the time to wait.”

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Eljamel was a neurosurgeon at NHS Tayside for nearly two decades and carried out botched operations on patients with campaigners claiming up to 200 people are victims.

Jules, 56, had her tear duct removed rather than a brain tumour at the hands of the rogue operative.

When patients started raising concerns the surgeon was suspended and fled to his home country of Libya where he is still to operate in prestigious hospitals, including carrying out surgeries on babies.

Patients successfully campaigned for a public inquiry into the scandal but promised assessments of their cases, called clinical reviews, have been delayed.

An update given by inquiry chair Professor Stephen Wigmore last week stated: “I’m afraid we don’t have a firm date yet. The public inquiry team are holding two public consultation events in October. It will be after these and likely online.”

Jules said: "I'm perplexed as to what the delay is. We were told by Michael Matheson and Neil Gray the reviews were expected to start in April. It’s now September, and we hear they won't be until at least the end of October. It’s not good enough.

“We need the reviews to identify the harm we were exposed to and that it has caused so people can get the care and support they rightly deserve. The clock is ticking. They dither, we die.”

Meanwhile the public inquiry into Eljamel is now looking for staff to work for 47 months on the probe. A communications specialist job has been advertised with a salary of £45,449 - £54,419, lasting for almost four years.

It indicates the investigation is likely to last several years although there has been no timescales set publicly.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “We recognise the pain and distress experienced by patients impacted by Mr Eljamel’s practice.

“The establishment of the Eljamel Public Inquiry is progressing at pace and it has set out the next steps for the consultation with patients on the terms of reference.

“This consultation period reflects the importance of understanding the experience of former patients of Mr Eljamel. Professor Wigmore is similarly moving forward with set up arrangements for the Independent Clinical Review.”

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