A “devastated” Tayside family have claimed a mother of two died in an ambulance only a day after a GP misdiagnosis.
Angus woman Shona Stewart, 41, was laid to rest after she died of a suspected heart attack.
The Forfar resident, whose family has a long history of early deaths through cardiac conditions, left behind her children Amy, three, and Cameron, 10, and husband Craig.
Mr Stewart was too upset to speak to The Courier but her mother Evelyn Sinclair and sister-in-law Gillian Sinclair said a GP diagnosed her as suffering from “heartburn”.
The family are “very angry” and have given the NHS the message “this must be stopped from happening again”.
Mrs Stewart had gone to Academy Medical Centre in Forfar on Tuesday April 16 complaining of chest pain and tingling in her fingers, which the doctor said was indigestion.
Her mother said: “We are angry but want to get through the funeral and this is a very difficult time.”
Gillian, 39, said: “My husband’s family have a history of hereditary heart problems and a lot of my husband’s family have died at a young age due to this which the doctors knew about.”
Mr Stewart planned to take her to Whitehills Hospital in Forfar that night but an ambulance was called and Mrs Stewart died on the way to Ninewells.
Gillian said the family were concerned by Mrs Stewart’s inability to get an appointment as her condition worsened, and they are aware it is hard to get a same-day appointment with their surgery.
“It opens at 8am but by 8.10am there are no appointments or the phone’s constantly engaged for over half an hour.”
It is understood the family have been approached by healthcare professionals, who gave their condolences.
On behalf of the Academy Street practice, manager Diane Meek said: “NHS Tayside’s complaints procedure is in operation within the practice.
“I would like, on behalf of the practice, to extend condolences to the patient’s family at this very sad time and we would be very happy to arrange a meeting between the family representative and a GP partner of the practice should they wish to discuss matters further.
“Should this be the case I would be grateful if they could contact me.”