Meet the PPG Members
Carol Voake – Treasurer
My name is Carol Voake and I live in Meads. On leaving the Holy Cross Convent School in New Malden in 1957 my working life commenced in the Treasurers Office of Sutton and Cheam Borough Council. I then commuted to London to work for the Chief Buyer of Philips Electrical. After Michael and I married I worked locally in Surbiton in the advertising department of Winthrop Pharmaceuticals.
We moved to East Dean in 1971 and registered as patients at College Road surgery. Michael and I opened our own retail jewellery shop in Eastbourne and ran it together for twenty-five years until retiring 21 years ago. I still meet many of our customers on their visits to the Practice when volunteering in Reception, it is lovely to catch up with you all.
I was invited to help form the Lighthouse Patient Participation Group in July 2006. I am the Treasurer and volunteer to help with the flu clinics and patient surveys. I can regularly be seen at the College Road surgery helping patients on their arrival and in the waiting room. I also look after the various information posters and leaflets displayed. After a major refit at College Road I was delighted to find a local photographer, Roger Whellans willing to display his work around the waiting room areas which has added interest and life to the walls.
I was a full time carer to my late husband for many years and I now enjoy flower arranging, helping in the garden and walking by the sea in my spare time.
Liz Walke
My name is Elizabeth Walke but most people call me Liz. I have been involved in the PPG for over ten years having done different roles and now Vice Chair of the Practice PPG and I also run the PPG Virtual group. The Virtual Group comprises of patients from the Practice and feeds into the Practice PPG mainly with feedback on patient experience of the Practice but they also feedback on local NHS services including the hospital. We realise that there is often overlap when related to health care, and it’s often not clear to you or I who is responsible. The PPG is great for patients and the Practice alike as it sorts out numerous issues arising which the doctors or patients may be completely unaware, and can be sorted.
Outside of the PPG, I am a self-employed book-keeper and also Chair of the Save the DGH Campaign, which fights to keep essential (or sometimes known as core) hospital services at Eastbourne DGH. As a Christian, I am on the leadership of the new River Of Life Community Church, previously Langney Community Church which has joined with The Well Community Church, which now meets at St Barnabas Church next to Langney Shopping Centre. I am also a Street Pastor, which I thoroughly enjoy. The team I am in (of at least three people) go into Eastbourne Town Centre from about 10pm to 4am on a Friday or Saturday evening watching out for the vulnerable and helping where we can, just like Jesus would do. Teams normally go out every four weeks on a rota basis with some prayer pastors who don’t go out but pray whilst their team is out.
I have been married for nearly 37 years to Dave and have four grown up boys – one of which is a GP, one is an Accountant, one is involved in Electronics and one is an Insurance surveyor. I also have four grandchildren with another (which I know about) due in September. Last but not least, I am an identical twin to Rose Bunn so if you see someone looking like me and she blanks you, it’s likely to be her! I love it!
Kath Boak – temporary chair
We are very lucky to have a GP Practice which really wants to have feedback on our experiences with them, and to hear our ideas and suggestions.
My own involvement with the Lighthouse Practice didn’t begin auspiciously! I moved to Eastbourne with my husband Cliff at the beginning of 2015 when we retired. Unfortunately, my first appointment gave rise to a complaint. I was pleased to be invited to a meeting with Dr Stewart (Senior Partner) and Claire Carter (Complaints Manager) to resolve the issues. The meeting was extremely positive. I was so impressed that they really genuinely wanted constructive ideas from patients that I decided to join the Patient Forum.
I was born in the North East, and I have lived and worked all over the country. My main career was as a manager in BT, where I had over 1000 people working in my department. I was also an Employment Tribunal member. I have also worked as a Classroom Assistant, and a Citizens Advice Bureau Adviser. Since moving to Eastbourne, I have become involved with a lot of local activities – U3A; walking; dancing of many types – Folk, Ballroom, Belly dancing; the Devonshire Park Theatre group; and the Patient Participation Group.
We absolutely adore Eastbourne – in under five minutes we can walk to the Bandstand and sea (our daily early morning exercise) as well as to two theatres and five restaurants. It is perfect for us and very different from the (too) closely-knit mining villages where I was brought up and the anonymous London suburbs where we’ve lived. We have made so many new friends here. Old friends and family who joked they were visiting us in ‘God’s Waiting Room’ have left Eastbourne with a completely revised opinion of our vibrant, cosmopolitan town.
Whenever I can tear myself away from Eastbourne, my other great love is Greece. We have now visited over 40 Greek Islands, and hope to see more.
