[NOTE: This letter has been archived here for public information, the PDF is exactly as received except for Professor Stephen J Wigmore’s signature which has been redacted for privacy. Below is the text from the letter, formatting has been removed.]
For the attention of former patients of Eljamel,
Firstly, please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Stephen Wigmore and I am the Regius Professor of Clinical Surgery at the University of Edinburgh. I have been appointed by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care to chair the Independent Clinical Review for former patients of Mr Eljamel who wish to take part.
I am an experienced practising surgeon and continue to treat patients on a regular basis. My specialty is liver and pancreas cancer surgery and transplantation. I think it is useful to have an experienced surgeon who is not a neurosurgeon to chair the Independent Clinical Review as it allows me to be truly impartial and objective in overseeing the expert neurosurgeons who will undertake the individual reviews. I have also been appointed because of my experience of chairing a number of health related inquiries and investigations in the past.
I know you have been anxious for the Independent Clinical Review of cases to begin. I appreciate that it has taken some time to get to this point but we have been ensuring we have all the right things in place to ensure the Clinical Review is truly independent, confidential and can run smoothly.
We have made significant progress lately, with setting up the administrative, data management and clinical support for the Clinical Review. I have also been able to begin recruiting a network of expert neurosurgeons who are independent of NHS Tayside and have never worked with Mr Eljamel. To help keep you informed on progress, a webpage has been created and this will be updated with information about the ICR. The following link will take you to the webpage:
https://www.gov.scot/groups/eljamel-independent-clinical-review/
You will be aware that as well as the Independent Clinical Reviews there is a Public Inquiry chaired by Lord Weir. The Eljamel Inquiry will be an investigation into the systems that could pick up on evidence of poor practice and treatment of Eljamel’ s patients and if these systems operated in the way that they should have done.
While the Eljamel Inquiry and ICR processes are independent of each other it is important that they are aligned so that the two processes offer the best opportunity for patients to obtain answers and so that we avoid duplication of work.
I am intending to hold an online public engagement event in the near future. This will give me the opportunity to outline how the ICR process is going to work so you know what to expect should you decide to take part.
I will be getting in touch with you again shortly, to let you know when the event details have been confirmed. The details will also be available on the Eljamel Clinical Review webpage.
Kind Regards
[signature]
Professor Stephen Wigmore