Missing doctor left letter to family naming Jeremy Hunt
THE junior doctor who disappeared near a coastal beauty spot left a letter to her family that referred to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.
Rose Polge, 25, who backed recent hospital strikes, was said to have been under pressure at work – and vanished after walking out of her hospital in the middle of a shift
The GP’s daughter made a passing reference to Mr Hunt in a personal note left in her car, which was found abandoned on the Devon coast five days ago.
Dr Polge – who works at Torbay Hospital in Torquay – had supported the strikes and was a member of a Facebook group set up to mobilise junior doctors to action.
A source said that a number of doctors on the ward where Dr Polge was working are under a huge amount of stress. He said she was ‘ normally a level-headed person’ who ‘just walked out of the ward in the middle of the day’. A student nurse on the ward added: ‘She is so lovely and helpful. [It is] such a shock to everyone who has worked with her.’
The intimate letter left by Dr Polge for her family is understood not to be political and does not make reference to issues surrounding the dispute between Mr Hunt and junior doctors.
Searches for the 5ft 2in brunette were continuing yesterday, with police having used divers, climbers, a helicopter and even a drone to scour the rocks and waters off Torquay.
Her boyfriend Alasdair Hawley, 26, was last night said to have been left ‘devastated’ by the disappearance of his longterm girlfriend. He is thought to be the last person she spoke to before she vanished.
The couple met as medical students at the University of Southampton several years ago, and have posted numer- ous photographs online documenting their student life and multiple trips abroad.
After graduating the couple both took up roles as junior doctors at Torbay Hospital in Mr Hawley’s hometown of Torquay. A member of his fam- ily confirmed that Miss Polge was at work just hours before being reported missing.
He said: ‘Everybody is really upset and worried and we just hope that she is found safe.’
The young doctor’s car was found in a car park at Anstey’s Cove, Torquay, on Friday evening. At its height, more than 100 people joined the search for her. Volunteers, including family and friends, took part until police advised them there was nothing more they could do.
A hoodie believed to belong to Dr Polge was found on rocks on the beach on Sunday.
A keen hockey player who grew up in Cambridgeshire, the junior doctor is from a medical background. Her father is a GP and her brother and sister are both in the medical profession. As a student she won an award for a presentation on how GPs can spot the difference between psychological disorders and emotional distress in patients.
She raised money for Mountain Rescue teams by hiking up the highest peaks in Scotland, England and Wales in 24 hours.
Her family said in a statement yesterday: ‘We would like to thank everyone for their help, hope and kind words. The support we have received from family and friends has been much appreciated. Clearly Rose is loved far and wide. We are overwhelmed by the support from her friends and colleagues.’
Torbay and South Devon NHS Trust and Devon and Cornwall Police refused to comment on the contents of Dr Polge’s note. A spokesman for the Department for Health said: ‘Our thoughts are with Dr Polge’s family and friends at an extremely difficult time.’
For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch. See www.samaritans.org for details.
‘We just hope she
is found safe’