Sam Eljamel, formerly head of neurosurgery at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, harmed dozens of patients at NHS Tayside, leaving some with life-changing injuries, says The Courier.
Courier reporter Graeme Strachan exposed the full extent of the scandal for the first time in March 2015 but Shona Robison, then Scottish health secretary and now deputy first minister, rejected calls for a public inquiry after assurances – now known to be false, says The Courier – from health board chiefs.
But as the victims’ ordeal threatened to fade from public consciousness in the years that followed, political writers Justin Bowie and Alasdair Clark refused to let NHS Tayside and government ministers dodge questions on the continuing concerns raised by patients and medics.
The Courier continued to follow the victims’ stories and exposed Eljamel’s fall from grace as he jetted around the globe on lucrative speaking engagements while his victims were left in agony. An NHS Tayside investigation into the surgeon was only launched after the news brand revealed he had lied about his medical credentials, say the publishers.
David Clegg, editor of The Courier, said: “The news that the Scottish Government will finally hold a public inquiry into the scandal of rogue NHS Tayside doctor Sam Eljamel is a huge victory for his victims and also for The Courier’s journalism. I genuinely believe that without the vital work of our team, Eljamel’s victims would still be waiting for the full public inquiry they so desperately want.
“This reinforces the need for regional journalists to continue to hold public institutions to account and to fight for the interests and causes that matter to the communities we serve.”
Keep up-to-date with publishing news: sign up here for InPubWeekly, our free weekly e-newsletter.
