A respected Angus GP and musician has died just hours after performing on stage.
Dr Elizabeth Mary Helen Veitch (56), who lived in Broughty Ferry, passed away on Sunday after complaining to a friend that she was suffering from stomach cramps and feeling sick.
Better known as Mary, Dr Veitch joined Arbroath’s Springfield Medical Centre in February 2007, having previously worked as a salaried GP with the out-of-hours service in Tayside.
She had been expected to start another week of work on Monday, however patients were left stunned when medical officials informed them of her sudden death.
As well as being a popular GP, Dr Veitch was also well known for her musical talents especially in her role as singer, mandolin and fiddle player of the three-piece Dundee band, Sympatico.
In January the trio released their first EP, Crooked Blues, and had hoped to get back into the studio in the future.
But those plans are in tatters with band members, Alan Digby and Lindsay Duncan, still coming to terms with the sad loss.
Leading the tributes to the mother-of-three was Gail Graham, practice manager for Springfield Medical Practice. She expressed her condolences from all the GPs and staff at the practice to Mary’s family and friends.
She said, “We are all very shocked at the sudden and unexpected death of Dr Veitch. Our thoughts are with her family at this very sad time.”
NHS Tayside medical director Dr Andrew Russell added, “Mary’s untimely death has left us all at NHS Tayside deeply saddened at the loss of a very dear colleague and friend.
“She will be greatly missed by all.”
One of the last people to speak with Dr Veitch was close friend, and Sympatico guitarist and singer, Lindsay Duncan (46).
He spoke of his “utter shock” at hearing the news of her death.
“It was a massive shock to all of us,” he said. “She done a gig with me on Friday night and we were due to perform at a wedding on the Saturday.
“But she texted me during the day saying she was not feeling well and we would need to find a stand-in for her.
“Throughout the evening I texted her to ask how she was feeling and she said that there was no change. That was the last time we spoke and not long after that she called for an ambulance and was taken to hospital where she died.”
Dr Veitch, said Mr Duncan, had been “fighting fit” and took part in a 10K run two weeks before.
The cause of her death is still unknown and, as in all cases of sudden deaths, a post mortem will be carried out.
“She was a doctor and had a doctor’s bedside manner, she was so full of life, that’s what gets me about it,” continued Mr Duncan, who works as a guitar teacher.
“She was unbelievably passionate about music and very talented. She was great fun and will be sadly missed by all who knew her.”
Dr Veitch is survived by her three children.