Patients Anxious Over Government Silence on Eljamel Inquiry Delay

Patients of former neurosurgeon Sam Eljamel have expressed anxiety and suspicion due to the Scottish Government's lack of public explanation regarding delays in the Eljamel Inquiry. The inquiry, established to investigate claims that Eljamel harmed up to 200 patients, faced postponement of its first evidential hearings originally scheduled for April. The delay stems from fire safety compliance issues at the Waverley Gate venue in Edinburgh, which posed risks to public attendance. Senior counsel Jamie Dawson KC stated that the silence created an information vacuum, fueling speculation among traumatized victims who feared exclusion from the process. Although the inquiry team identified the risks early, a formal public announcement was not made until recently. The Scottish Government, as the leaseholder of the building, is currently negotiating with a new landlord to resolve the safety concerns or find an alternative venue. A government spokesperson acknowledged the distress caused and pledged support to ensure hearings remain accessible. Eljamel, who resigned in 2014 and removed himself from the medical register in 2015, is believed to be practicing in Libya.