Public were badly let down

Sir, – In light of the newly reported medical scandal at Ninewells (“Call for inquiry into surgeon”, Courier, September 3) we really need to be asking why it is that we are paying hundreds of thousands of pounds every year, in salaries, bonuses and pension contributions, to the managers and directors of our health service – and our politicians who are supposed to be overviewing policy and process of our public services – in the face of the overwhelming evidence that patients were allowed to be misdiagnosed, mistreated and subsequently ignored when neurosurgical treatments were so badly flawed.

As it now transpires, the policy and processes being followed by Tayside Health Board were so badly directed and managed that not only did it not take steps to suspend the head of its neurosurgery unit as a consequence of increasing surgical failure, it also failed to take necessary steps to investigate properly the complaints of those patients who were mistreated.

Furthermore, it failed to bring the situation to the attention of the public.

One also has to wonder where was the former SNP health minister, Shona Robison when all this was going on?

The latest retort from Tayside Health Board is the wearisome excuse that “lessons have been learned”.

Really?

Should not heads be rolling for the poor quality of patient care that has failed patients undergoing treatment at Ninewells?

Why is it that those in charge should be immune from the consequences of their inactions?

Should there not be a more focused inquiry as to the reason for the very apparent cover-up of the circumstances and outcomes?

The public deserves to know who knew what and when in this scandalous series of failures.

Derek Farmer. Knightsward Farm, Anstruther.