Jersey's Medical Officer of Health to retire

Sunday 18 October 2020

The government has announced that Dr Susan Turnbull is to retire after nine years as Medical Officer of Health.

Dr Turnbull moved to Jersey in 2006 and was appointed as Medical Officer of Health in 2011.

Since being in Jersey, the government said she has worked on the Island’s response to the 2009 Swine Flu pandemic, and on delivering immunisation programmes and bowel screening.

Dr Turnbull qualified as a doctor in 1981 at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne Medical School and worked as both a GP and hospital doctor. During the 1990s she worked in the UK Department of Health as national medical policy lead on blood borne viruses. Before moving to Jersey, she was Director of Public Health for Bournemouth.

She said: "I've had a wonderful, varied career and have been privileged to serve the Island for the last 14 years.  I'll miss Jersey greatly, but now is the right time to focus on family and I'm looking forward to spending more time with my wonderful grandchildren. 

“I'm confident that the Island remains in safe hands with the expert advice of Dr Ivan Muscat and the medical leadership of Mr Patrick Armstrong to help steer our health services."

During the recruitment process, Dr Ivan Muscat will continue to undertake the duties of the Medical Officer for Health and lead Jersey’s medical response to the corona virus pandemic.  

Minister for Health and Social Services, Deputy Richard Renouf, said: "I'd like to thank Dr Turnbull for her dedicated service to the Island and commend all her work over the years, notably bringing public health ideology to the centre of government thinking and shaping our strategy. Quite rightly, we now prioritise health and wellbeing across all government policy and planning."