Public hearings in Eljamel Inquiry ‘a long time coming’, says senior counselThe first day of proceedings began on Tuesday with an opening address from Jamie Dawson KC.Public evidence sessions have begun in the Eljamel Inquiry (handout/PA)PA MediaDanyel Vanreenen6 minutes ago
Public evidence hearings into disgraced brain surgeon Sam Eljamel have been a “long time coming”, an inquiry has been told.
Mr Eljamel was a consultant neurosurgeon at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee from 1995 until his suspension in December 2013.
A public inquiry is taking place after patients of Mr Eljamel raised concerns that he had harmed as many as 200 people.
The first day of proceedings began on Tuesday with an opening address from Jamie Dawson KC, the inquiry’s senior counsel.
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He said the inquiry had reached a “significant milestone”, adding: “This is the first day on which oral evidence will be heard by this inquiry. For many, this day has been a long time coming.
“The subject matter of this inquiry is relatively historic, focused as it is on the systems surrounding the practice of Mr Sam Eljamel, a consultant neurosurgeon who worked in the Tayside area.
“Many who have been harmed as a result of treatment received over that period or as a result of the way the state has responded to their treatment in subsequent years have fought hard for a long time to reach today.”
Mr Dawson said it is “right that the inquiry recognise their efforts and their sacrifice” in reaching this point.
In his opening address, inquiry chairman Lord Weir acknowledged patients of Mr Eljamel may feel “frustrated and worn down by the time” it has taken to get answers.
“Given the circumstances in which the present hearings were postponed in the spring, I can only think that that frustration will have grown,” Lord Weir said.
He said the postponement of the public evidence hearings, due to fire safety concerns around the venue at Waverley Gate in Edinburgh, was “deeply disappointing”, and he said having to address the issue was “time consuming and extremely disruptive to the inquiry team’s focus”.
However, he added: “I can now be satisfied that these hearings can properly and safely take place.
“The solution devised may come with financial and practical consequences for the inquiry, but these will be for me to deal with.
“What matters is that the hearing suite is now available for its intended use, with the result that we are in a position to commence with evidence in section one today.
Campaigners have spent years calling for a public inquiry (PA)PA Archive
“It is indeed a watershed moment for all those who have suffered or continue to suffer as a result of medical treatment they received and their experiences subsequently. They deserve special mention on what will doubtless be a day of mixed emotions.”
In his opening address, Mr Dawson said the first phase of hearings will look at issues including the broad trajectory of Mr Eljamel’s career, evidence relating to him being placed under supervision in 2013, and document management and retention systems within NHS Tayside.
Mr Dawson said this section of the inquiry will aim to get an impression of what documents are held within organisations, and to examine document management systems within NHS Tayside – including the extent to which the absence of documents “undermined the effectiveness of previous investigations” into the professional practice of Mr Eljamel.
“Where documents exist, they may tell us the answers we need,” Mr Dawson said.
“They may not have been previously available and provide illumination to those who have not had access before. They may confirm suspicions or answer burning questions.
“Equally, they may not tell the whole story, or they may be partially useful, or may not exist at all. Whatever the picture which emerges, this is a useful part of our preliminary foray into the evidence.”
The first witness will be Liz Smith, who in her former role as an MSP for Mid-Scotland and Fife represented a number of Mr Eljamel’s former patients and helped to campaign for a public inquiry.
The current chief executive of NHS Tayside, Nicky Connor, is due to give evidence on Wednesday.
During the first phase, which will last four weeks, the inquiry will hear from a wide range of other witnesses including representatives of NHS Tayside, the Scottish Government, the University of Dundee, and regulatory or professional bodies.
Following his suspension, the surgeon resigned from his post in May 2014 and removed himself from the General Medical Register in 2015.
He is since thought to have returned to Libya to work there.
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