Police accused of delays in rogue surgeon probe

Protester Charlie Huldal was operated on by Eljamel in 2009

Victims of Sam Eljamel have accused Police Scotland of "kicking the can down the road" more than five years after officers launched an investigation into the disgraced surgeon.

Campaigners outside the force's Dundee headquarters said they had been "in limbo" since an inquiry was launched in 2018.

Mr Eljamel worked for NHS Tayside from 1995 until he was suspended in 2013 amid claims more than 196 patients were harmed by him.

Police Scotland said its investigation was "extremely complex" and inquiries were ongoing.

Sam Eljamel was the head of the neurosurgery department in Ninewells Hospital, Dundee

A public inquiry into Eljamel was announced last September, and victims have also previously filed evidence to police.

About 50 members of the Patients' Action Group for Eljamel Public Inquiry staged the demonstration claiming there had been severe delays in the investigation, which is called Operation Stringent.

Charlie Huldal had a botched operation by Eljamel on discs in his neck in 2009.

He said: "Four years later I had to go private, costing £15,000, to correct an operation that Mr Eljamel said would last me for life."

Eljamel cut through nerves in Maggie McMartin's face during an operation in 2005

Mr Huldal said he submitted his evidence to police last September.

He said: "They said it would take two or three months - it's now May and nothing has been done.

"These patients are dying, and it won't be until years after their deaths that justice might be done.

"We need it now."

BBC Scotland's Disclosure programme discovered in 2018 that dozens of people claimed to have been harmed by the surgeon.

And in 2022 BBC Scotland News revealed details of a damning report that found NHS Tayside repeatedly let patients down.

Managers were strongly criticised for putting the doctor under indirect supervision in June 2013, rather than suspending him.

It meant he was allowed to continue operating until he was suspended in December that year.

He is now working as a surgeon in Libya.

Protesters kicked cans from the steps to symbolise their claim of police inaction

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "This is an extremely complex investigation which is being investigated by specialist officers from the Major Investigation Team.

"Inquiries remain ongoing and we continue to work alongside partner agencies."