By Eve Beattie

Copyright dailyrecord

A public inquiry into disgraced brain surgeon Sam Eljamel will finally open with a preliminary hearing on Wednesday. The inquiry, chaired by Lord Weir, will dig into the actions of Eljamel and the failures in oversight which allowed him to continue operating at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee . Eljamel was hired by NHS Tayside as a consultant neurosurgeon in 1995 and later promoted to head of neurosurgery. But by 2013 he was placed under supervision and then suspended after serious concerns were raised about his standard of care. He quit in 2014, leaving behind a trail of devastated patients who say he harmed as many as 200 people, with some left with life-changing injuries. Former patients are expected to protest outside Wednesday’s hearing in Edinburgh . The Patients Action Group (PAG), which represents those operated on by Eljamel, say the inquiry has been a long time coming. Spokesman Alan Ogilvie, who was operated on by the surgeon back in 1995, said: “For the dozens of patients who have fought tirelessly for years, this hearing is a significant, if profoundly delayed, milestone. “We have waited two years since the inquiry was first announced, and even longer since we were first harmed, for this process to finally begin in public. “While we welcome this step, the immense emotional and physical toll of these delays on patients and their families cannot be understated. “It is, quite simply, about time.” The inquiry will probe whether patients were let down by failures in clinical governance, complaints procedures and risk management. It will also look at the impact of Eljamel’s private practice and research work and whether NHS bosses tried to cover up evidence of sub-standard care. PAG have campaigned since 2022 for a full public inquiry, which was finally announced in 2023. Campaigners welcomed Lord Weir’s pledge to seek evidence from UK-wide regulators such as the General Medical Council (GMC) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). But they remain worried the inquiry’s legal powers stop it from making binding recommendations about those organisations. The probe was formally launched on April 3 by Health Secretary Neil Gray, giving it the green light to start gathering evidence. So far, Lord Weir has named NHS Tayside, 133 former patients, and 19 personal representatives as applicants, all represented by legal firm Levy & McRae. Other core participants include the Scottish Government, the University of Dundee , the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh , Healthcare Improvement Scotland, and NHS Education for Scotland. Members of the public, including Eljamel’s former patients, can apply to sit in on the preliminary hearing, which takes place at Waverley Gate in central Edinburgh . The proceedings will also be streamed live on the inquiry’s YouTube channel, and available to watch later on its website. A spokesperson for NHS Tayside said: “We are actively participating in the Eljamel Inquiry.”