Geriatric specialist joins Guernsey health group

A geriatric specialist has been announced as a partner at the Medical Specialist Group (MSG) in Guernsey.

Islander Dr Ruth Copeland chose to move back to Guernsey after studying and developing a career in the care of older people in the UK.

Before joining the MSG in 2023, she was a consultant geriatrician at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, one of England's largest teaching hospitals.

Dr Copeland said she wanted to use her expertise to help meet the "evolving needs of our island".

She is one of five partners in the 40-strong MSG partnership who have returned to the island.

Dr Copeland said: "Having grown up in Guernsey, it is rewarding to return home and contribute to a partnership dedicated to providing excellent healthcare to our local community.

"Supporting and enhancing the health of older people on the island is a key priority for me, and I look forward to collaborating with my colleagues and partners at the MSG, as well as HSC, to meet this important challenge."

Data from States figures in 2021 highlighted the number of people living in Guernsey aged 85 and over was likely to double by 2045.

Fellow islander Dr Michelle Le Cheminant, the MSG's deputy chair, said she was "extremely proud" to see another local woman involved in the MSG partnership.

"With her expertise in geriatric medicine and determination to continue expanding her knowledge, Dr Copeland will be a huge asset to our community," she added.

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