Patients who believe they were harmed by a disgraced neurosurgeon will have to wait up to two years to find out if he will face criminal charges.
Sam Eljamel left some with life changing injuries while he was head of neurosurgery at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee.
Former patient Jules Rose, who has become a prominent victims’ campaigner, met the Lord Advocate on Monday to discuss the long-running police investigation.
He told BBC Scotland Information that Dorothy Bain KC confirmed that the surgeon’s employers, NHS Tayside, were also being investigated for criminal charges.
Speaking after the two-hour meeting, Ms Rose said: “The Lord Advocate was very open and honest, saying that it was anticipated that Operation Strict would take another one and a half to two years before a decision was made. about crime.
“What was nice to hear is that not only is Eljamel being investigated, but also NHS Tayside.”
Rose said he was “very happy” with how the meeting had gone and that Bain agreed to provide a timeline for the investigation, in an attempt to speed up the investigation.
He added: “They are looking to appoint more medical experts to help with patients’ medical records, and that was very nice to hear.”
He believes himself to be Eljamel now works in Libya.
He was head of neurosurgery at Ninewells until December 2013, when he was suspended.
However, a health board due diligence review found NHS Tayside placed it under indirect supervision in June 2013 rather than suspending it, meaning it was able to operate for a further six months.
It was during this period that he operated on Mrs Rose twice.
The activist also said her requests to meet Police Scotland Chief Constable Jo Farrell had been met with “radio silence”.
The Lord Lawyer criticized the force in December due to the time the Eljamel investigation has taken.
Rose added that the response he received from a deputy chief constable had been “condescending.”
The Crown Office said it recognized the distress and upset of those affected by the delays in the investigation, but would continue to work with officers to gather evidence from complainants and the health board.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “The senior investigating officer and his team are the best point of contact for victims as they are in the best position to answer any questions or concerns.
“The Chief Constable has full confidence in the investigative team to progress this complex investigation.”
