Victims Report Health Board for Destroying Evidence

NHS Tayside is under investigation after destroying 40 theatre logbooks belonging to disgraced surgeon Sam Eljamel. The health board received a 'Do Not Destroy' notice concerning all paperwork related to Eljamel's case, yet employees disposed of the records after this order was issued. Two victims, Jules Rose and Pat Kelly, have now filed their own police report against NHS Tayside, a move that occurred weeks after the board self-referred to the police. They believe this action signals a potentially criminal act, not mere human error.

Campaigner Jules Rose stated that the destruction of these records, which were part of a Police Scotland inquiry under Operation Stringent, suggests a deeper cultural problem within NHS Tayside. Eljamel, who previously worked at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, is at the center of a public inquiry for botched surgeries. He left for Libya in 2018, where he reportedly continues to practice medicine. Ms. Rose has called for meaningful accountability, including the resignation of health board chief executive Nicky Connor.

NHS Tayside has expressed deep regret over the incident, explaining that the staff responsible were unaware of the logbooks' connection to the Ninewells Hospital neurosurgeon. An internal investigation found the logbooks were mistakenly placed in confidential waste. The health board has commissioned an independent review of its systems and governance. Police Scotland confirmed significant resources are dedicated to this complex and protracted inquiry to ensure thorough investigation.