Rogue surgeon Sam Eljamel may have harmed more than 200 patients, campaigners have warned.
The neurosurgeon worked at NHS Tayside between 1995 and 2013 and botched numerous operations, leaving patients with lifelong complications.
The exact number of victims is not known but 133 have joined a campaign group.
A damning report published this week revealed that he was not adequately supervised after complaints came to light. For a six-month period in 2013, he operated on 111 patients who are now being contacted by NHS Tayside.
Of the 133 in the campaign group, just a handful were treated in that period, suggesting more patients could have been harmed.
Rogue surgeon Sam Eljamel worked at NHS Tayside between 1995 and 2013 and botched numerous operations, leaving patients with lifelong complications.
Patient Jules Rose, 55, had a tear gland removed instead of a brain tumour by Professor Eljamel
Professor Eljamel made a catalogue of mistakes, leaving many patients with lifelong pain.
He was made to pay £2.8million in compensation to one woman after leaving her with disabilities.
An NHS Tayside review criticised health board management for putting the doctor under indirect supervision in June 2013 rather than suspending him.
He faced a legal claim in February 2013 but operated on 111 patients in the following six months.
Jules Rose, a mother of two from Kinross, leads a group of affected patients. In August 2013, Professor Eljamel wrongly removed her tear duct instead of a brain tumour.
She said: ‘I currently have 133 patient names who have approached me who have been severely harmed.
NHS Tayside have explained in their report that they have another 111 patients that have been potentially at risk under surgery with Eljamel from June to December 2013.
‘Of these 111 new patients, I only know five. So potentially, now, we’re looking at 239 patients that have been severely harmed under NHS Tayside and Professor Eljamel. Literally, this number has increased overnight.’
In a statement after the report was published on Thursday, Health Secretary Michael Matheson hinted at further action, but it is not clear if this could be the calling of a public inquiry or a reference to an independent commission being launched by ministers to support patients.
Mrs Rose added: ‘All the patients know what’s happened to them, we don’t need to have what they’re claiming to be independent reports into their care, we need a public inquiry so that people can be put under oath to explain what exactly went on in NHS Tayside.’
Health Secretary Michael Matheson hinted at further action, but it is not clear if this could be a public inquiry or an independent commission to support victims
Eljamel was head of neurosurgery at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee and left patients with life-altering injuries. Despite concerns over his practice, he was allowed to operate on 111 patients unsupervised in the six months leading to his suspension in 2013
Mr Matheson said: ‘This is a thorough report and lays bare some of the failings in NHS Tayside’s response to concerns over Professor Eljamel. What is important now is that those people directly affected are supported to find the answers they need.
‘For that to happen properly, I have been clear that this needs investigation independent of both NHS Tayside and the Scottish Government. We will provide more details on this shortly.’
Professor Eljamel removed himself from the medical register in 2015 and is not allowed to work as a doctor in the UK. He quit Scotland for Libya and was working as a surgeon there in 2020.
NHS Tayside’s executive medical director Dr Pamela Johnston said: ‘NHS Tayside apologises to former patients of the surgeon and remains committed to do whatever is required to support the independent commission which is being set up by the Scottish Government to respond to patients’ ongoing concerns.’
Tory MSP Liz Smith said her party supports a public inquiry, adding: ‘The scale of his disgraceful actions may be even more horrendous than first thought.’