Singing doctor hits right note with Muir mum – and little Archie; Raigmore medic has impressive repertoire
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A HEART-WARMING video of a doctor serenading a baby awaiting treatment in hospital has been shared on social media by a Ross-shire mother.
Dr Ryan Coetzee – dubbed by many as the Singing Doctor – is based in the paediatrics department of Raigmore Hospital in Inverness where he has also been putting his vocal talents to use in calming down his young patients.
A short film of the 29-year-old crooning Unforgettable to a mesmerised baby while he carried out blood tests has already gone viral after being shared on social media by the baby's mother and NHS Highland.
Muir of Ord mother Michell McEwan has now shared her clip of the doctor singing to her spellbound six-month-old son, Archie, who was on the ward for a follow-up procedure after recovering from sepsis.
She said his rendition of You've Got A Friend In Me from the film, Toy Story, had captivated her son.
"He cheered the whole ward up," said Mrs McEwan of The Cairns.
"It was really heart-warming to see how well he connects with the kids. He has a really nice way with them."
Mrs McEwan, who is currently on maternity leave as a nurse at the hospital, said the singing had a calming influence.
Dr Coetzee, who is from South Africa, is on a four-month locum placement which is due to finish next month when hopes to get a placement in England to further his experience. He previously worked at a hospital in Coleraine, Northern Ireland, where his singing talents were also noticed.
He is trained in classical singing and while he was at medical school in Johannesburg, he also taught singing and piano.
"I have always sung randomly around people," he said. "Singing is also a big cultural thing in South Africa – before the ward rounds, the nurses would sing hymns and say prayers."
Dr Coetzee said he liked singing "the oldies" such as Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole numbers but also performed Disney favourites such as Bear Necessities from The Jungle Book and Let It Go from Frozen.
“Singing to the patients has always been something I have done," he said. "It’s a natural thing for me to sing and when you work in paediatrics it's fun to be silly and make the kids laugh."
He also conceded that his singing can have varying effects.
"Some kids respond much better than others and there have been occasions I have been told to keep quiet!" he said. "I am not 100 per cent flawless."
Inverness mother Shannon Wemyss, who shared the first video of Dr Coetzee singing to her 10-month-old daughter, Gracey, described him as "amazing".
Her daughter, who has Down's Syndrome, had surgery for a hole in the heart as well as kidney and lung surgery and is usually distraught at having her bloods done but on this occasion there was not one tear.
"As soon as he started singing, she was mesmerised," said Mrs Wemyss who lives with husband, Mike, in Westercraigs, Inverness. "He just came out with his amazing voice. I have never seen anything like it."
WATCH THIS: Singing doctor in the Highlands uses vocal talents to calm down baby; Raigmore doc a social media hit
