Gran who heckled Humza receives apology after outburst noted in medical records

A botched surgery victim has received an apology from the NHS after her heckling of former First Minister Humza Yousaf was recorded on a confidential health board report.

Theresa Mallett is one of more than 200 patients who say they suffered serious harm at the hands of rogue surgeon Professor Sam Eljamel.

The 63-year-old grandmother was left with life-changing injuries and side effects after undergoing surgery for sciatica carried out by the Libyan medic while working for NHS Tayside.

In June 2023 Ms Mallett attended an SNP independence convention in Dundee where she heckled Mr Yousaf about the government’s lack of action over the scandal.

At the time she and other patients were calling for a public inquiry into the scandal.

However Ms Mallett has since discovered that NHS Tayside logged a record of the confrontation in an internal document which was later leaked in a data breach.

Ms Mallett, 63, from Glenrothes, Fife, said: ‘I’m disgusted honestly. It is a complete violation and has absolutely nothing to do with my health, my involvement with Eljamel or what happened to me.

‘It feels like an invasion of my privacy and like they’re spying on me, and anyone else who is campaigning for answers about this whole scandal.’

Former First Minister Humza Yousaf with protester Theresa Mallett, who interrupted his speech at the SNP independence convention at Caird Hall in Dundee in 2023

The first of 209 complaints were raised almost seven years ago by former patients of rogue surgeon Professor Sam Eljamel

The information about MS Mallett was recorded on an NHS Tayside spreadsheet.

It stated: ‘Confronted first minister at an SNP conference held in Dundee on 24/6/23.’

The spreadsheet also contained details of other patients who had contacted the health board about Eljamel between December 2022 and 27 February 2024.

A NHS Tayside spokeman said yesterday: “Ms Mallett has been in contact with the Patient Liaison Response team regarding her personal information which was shared in error in the recent data breach.

‘NHS Tayside apologises again for the release of the information contained in a spreadsheet.

‘If Ms Mallett would like to discuss her individual case in more detail, the team would be happy to do so and encourage her to get in touch.’

Earlier this month Eljamel victims were issued with a separate apology from Police Scotland over delays with their long running into the rogue surgeon

The first of 209 complaints were raised almost seven years ago by former patients.

They are demanding Eljamel is extradited back to Scotland from Libya to stand trial. He is currently living and working as a neurosurgeon in his homeland.

Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Livingstone, head of Police Scotland’s Major Crime Unit, delivered a personal apology for shortcomings during the first five years of the investigation.

Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain also told former patients there was enough evidence for a successful prosecution.

Professor Eljamel was employed as a neurosurgeon at NHS Tayside from 1995 until his suspension in 2013.

Ms Mallett, then an SNP member, had interrupted the First Minister’s keynote speech at Caird Hall in Dundee to demand a full public inquiry.

Mr Yousaf was forced to leave the stage to speak to Ms Mallett and agreed to meet her later at her home.

But the following month Ms Mallett said she still felt let down by the First Minister and revealed she had since resigned her party membership.

In 2022 a damning report had highlighted failures in how NHS Tayside oversaw Eljamel when he was the board’s head of neurosurgery.

Lifelong SNP member Ms Mallett was initially booed for her heckling by delegates.

At the time she said: ‘The day after the operation, Eljamel told me it was a complete success.

‘Two years later, the pain clinic told me that I was never getting better - it is permanent.

‘I thought I was going back to work. I thought I was going to get on with my life. And, of course, it got worse.’