On Thursday 23rd November, l was delighted to attend the Herald Politician of the Year Awards at Prestonfield House in Edinburgh and even more delighted to find out that the campaign of the year was named as the Public Inquiry into Professor Eljamel.
I want to pay tribute to Kinross resident Jules Rose who has led this campaign following her traumatic experiences. For the last ten years I have worked with Jules, and fellow campaigner Pat Kelly, to seek justice for the former patients of the disgraced neurosurgeon at NHS Tayside, Professor Eljamel.
Over this time many more patients have come forward. Each with their own harrowing story of Eljamel’s operations and whose clinical malpractice has inflicted overwhelming pain, misery, and trauma upon his victims. Worse still, we now know that Eljamel’s butchery was allowed to continue despite warnings beyond reasonable doubt. He not only ruined the lives of patients, but their families who also had to adjust to living with the horrific consequences of his crimes.
On the 7th September we eventually witnessed a breakthrough. The Scottish Government finally granted a full independent inquiry into the circumstances which allowed Eljamel to harm so many patients. It is essential that this process can begin as soon as possible as the nature of Eljamel’s crimes means many worry they will not live long enough to see the outcome and conclusion to this tragic affair. Those responsible for this negligent lack of supervision will soon be compelled to face the scrutiny of the inquiry panel. Hopefully, this inquiry will ensure that events such as this can never be allowed to happen again.
I would like to send my best wishes to Jules and Pat who without their steadfast campaigning may have seen up to 200 patients continue to suffer in silence. Their unwillingness to give up, despite being obstructed and knocked back at every turn, is a credit to their dedication for answers. Their relentless campaigning achieved the much-needed media coverage and public support that has delivered this outcome in the form of a public inquiry.
