EXCLUSIVE: Eljamel victims fear police involvement prompted NHS Tayside evidence destruction.

According to Dundee-based MSP Michael Marra, the destruction of the theatrical logs might have “devastating” consequences for the Eljamel investigation.

Victims of Sam Eljamel are increasingly concerned that NHS Tayside deleted “crucial” theatre logbooks after police requested information from the disgraced surgeon’s operations.

The health board informed a public inquiry into the treatment of patients under the neurosurgeon that 40 logbooks were destroyed “in error” over the summer.

They claim an internal inquiry found that the records were discarded on July 24 by workers who were unaware of their significance to the judge-led investigation.

But patients harmed by the Libyan surgeon claim the move may have been deliberate and could have been prompted by a police request to view them.

Eljamel logbook destruction could have ‘devastating impact’

NHS Tayside says it received a request from police to review the logbooks on August 28, one month after they were destroyed.

Some patients have expressed substantial scepticism that the destruction was unrelated.

According to Dundee Labour MSP Michael Marra, it could have a devastating influence on the public investigation, which is being headed by judge Lord Weir.

According to the Courier, the logbooks are considered “critical” to the inquiry and police investigation known as Operation Stringent.

The records serve as a register, tracking who is in an operating room, including support staff, and when procedures are underway.

According to insiders, the records could disclose prospective witnesses and who worked closest to Eljamel, allowing the inquiry or detectives to examine them as part of Operation Stringent.

Individual patient records are unlikely to have this information.

NHS Tayside leadership in ‘crisis’

Mr Marra told The Courier: “This is a crisis of leadership and governance that demands full accountability. Apologies and excuses will not suffice.

“These documents were absolutely crucial. Their loss has been described to me by the most senior of figures as a disaster for the public inquiry and the prospect of justice.

“A core issue for the inquiry is the veracity of records – was there a cover-up of what did and did not happen in theatre over many years.

“There are also doubts as to whether records were falsified and there are patients whose records are incomplete or missing.”

He added: “It appears that the request from police to see these logbooks may have revealed the destruction. There are patients who believe that the police interest may have even triggered their destruction.

“Those accusations of conspiracy may sound far fetched to some but these patients have been dealing with a dishonest health board for many years. Their trust has completely gone.”

Mr Marra has written to NHS Tayside chief executive Nicky Connor and board chair Caroline Wilkinson to request an urgent meeting.

‘Trust is dead’

Campaigner Jules Rose, who had her tear duct removed instead of a brain tumour when Eljamel operated on her, claims that the destruction of evidence poisons the investigation.

She stated, “The deletion of the logbooks is not only the elimination of damning evidence. “This isn’t just a potential crime. “It wasn’t simply the CEO who kept it from the investigation chair, the health secretary, the board, and the police for two months.

“It is bigger than all of that. It is the final nail in the coffin of faith for Eljamel’s slaughtered victims. “It poisons a multimillion-pound public inquiry before it even starts.

“It screams, ‘What else has NHS Tayside destroyed? What else are they burying? ‘ “We’re already braced for the same tired script:

‘Lessons will be learned. We are really sorry. This will never happen again.’ “When trust is gone, words are just noise. “And right now, trust is dead.”

‘Error’

According to NHS Tayside, an internal examination of the circumstances surrounding the deletion of the theatre logbooks discovered that they were placed in a confidential waste stream and disposed of incorrectly.

“The individuals involved were not aware of the connection between the logbooks and Mr Eljamel.”

The health board told The Courier that the chief executive was informed of the destruction on September 9, and that the event had been reported to the police.

A spokeswoman stated, “NHS Tayside understands this is a significant occurrence and is currently conducting an additional investigation of the facts beyond the internal report.

“We will be taking all steps to try to ensure there can be no further destruction of any documentation in error.”

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