Family plea for doctor to return

Dr David Hughes told his wife he was going hillwalking

The family of an Edinburgh doctor who has been missing for a week has made an emotional plea for him to return.

Dr David Hughes, 37, a Surgeon Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Navy, disappeared after a night shift at St John's Hospital in Livingston.

The father-of-three, from Wester Hailes, had just been told he was being sent back to the Gulf with the Navy.

His wife Joanne, 33, said the anaesthetist, originally from Devon, was under huge stress at work.

I am not mad that you haven't come home and that you disappeared Joanne Hughes Dr Hughes wife

Dr Hughes was last seen finishing work at 0900 BST on Wednesday and later called his wife to say he was going hillwalking.

Mrs Hughes revealed her husband had been working up to 80 hours each week, and was unhappy about not being able to spend time with his family.

Speaking directly to her husband, Mrs Hughes, said: "David, I really want you to come home. I am not mad that you haven't come home and that you disappeared.

"I just want to know that you are safe. We are all extremely worried about your safety and I just want to see you and to talk to you.

"I know that you are fed up with your work and unhappy with life in general at the moment.

"I love you very much, please come home."

Joanne Hughes has appealed for her husband to return home

The couple, who are originally from Newton Abbot in Devon, had moved to Scotland about four years ago.

Dr Hughes completed his medical training at Dundee University six years ago before joining the navy as a medic.

They have three children, Liam, 11, eight-year-old Amy, and two-year-old Ben.

Mrs Hughes added: "The children are missing you and little Ben keeps asking where you are. I don't know what to say to him."

The family spent last year in New Zealand, where Dr Hughes was working with the Flying Doctor Service, and had returned to Edinburgh in February.

He has been working as an anaesthetist at St John's Hospital in Livingston, West Lothian while on a Navy placement to train to be a consultant.

Hillwalking equipment

Dr Hughes had previously served for three months in Iraq in 2003 on the hospital ship RFA Argus, and was due to return to Basra in January 2008.

David's brother Matt added: "We are very concerned for his safety. His disappearance is out of character. David is a responsible family man with three children."

He was last spotted crossing the Forth Road Bridge at about 1000 BST in his silver Mondeo car.

Mrs Hughes's last contact with him was when he sent her a text in the afternoon to say he was going to camp out overnight.

He was last seen wearing a green fleece, navy blue Rohan trousers and trainers and his family believe he may have a tent and hillwalking equipment with him.

A Lothian and Borders Police spokeswoman said: "He left in his silver Ford Mondeo estate car, registration number FG03 GYH."