St George's Surgery PPG Members
PPG Chair :- Phil Capener
Phil has been appointed as Chairman overseeing the development of the St George's PPG. Phil is a qualified Chartered Electrical Engineer and a Lead Auditor in Medical and Pharmaceutical Manufacturing.
Phil has been a patient of St George's surgery since 1980 when it was located in St Georges Road. Phil's aim is to develop the PPG and positively support the practice as and where needed.
PPG Member :- Jane Watts
Jane Watts grew up in Surrey and moved to Cheltenham in 1995 with her then fiancé Mark. They have been patients of St George's Surgery since that time (which includes the move from St George's Rd to the current St Pauls site). They have two twenty-something sons, both born at Cheltenham General and looked after brilliantly by St George's as they grew up!
A graduate of the Royal College of Music, Jane worked for the BBC for many years (as a radio producer and TV news broadcast journalist) and now helps run the music department at a secondary school in Cheltenham. She has a lot of experience in public-service roles - and even worked as a GP receptionist (not at this practice) for a couple of years. She very much values the role of the PPG in supporting the work of St George's and would encourage others to take an active interest.
PPG Member :- Monica Lock
Originally from Sheffield, Monica has lived in Cheltenham for 48 years and has always been a patient at St George’s Surgery. She has worked in Manchester and London and lived for two years in Milan, Italy when her children were very young.
Monica was a catering lecturer for many years in Cheltenham and Evesham and retrained to be a specialist dyslexia tutor 19 years ago. Following that she qualified to be an assessor for specific learning difficulties (dyslexia and dyspraxia) and although officially retired still works privately carrying out full diagnostic assessments for people from the age of 16 years and for adults. Monica is particularly interested in the how a specific learning difficulty affects a person’s mental wellbeing and has concerns about the level of support available in education and society in general.
After many years of waiting, Monica is now a grandmother of three grandchildren and loves spending time with them. She keeps fit by swimming three times a week, walking and doing yoga. Monica enjoys attending art glasses and her main interest is making fused glass items.
PPG Member :- Barbara May
I want St. George's Practice to deliver the best possible care and services within its resources for patients and carers.
Through collaborative working between the practice and patients, the PPG represents the patient/carer voice by being a constructive critical friend and ambassador. Furthermore, by learning from others, the PPG influences improvements for patients.
I was born on the St. Paul's site, when many years ago it was a maternity hospital serving the Cheltenham area. I have spent time living abroad and have had a long career within healthcare, including senior roles at national level.
Since retirement to Cheltenham, I am faced with the practical day to day responsibility of caring for elderly relatives with complex health needs. The support from St. George's Practice in navigating various care systems has been invaluable and a steep learning curve.
Last year as a patient, I completed the Pre-Diabetes Programme and recently through the PPG have been involved as an assessor in NHS England's PLACE programme at Gloucestershire Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
St George's PPG is your voice and mine!
PPG Member :- Sushil Sidhu
Sushil has lived in Cheltenham since 1994, when he relocated from London with his employer. He initially registered as a patient at St George’s Road Surgery and later transferred to St Paul’s Medical Centre following its relocation.
Sushil previously worked as a Business Change and IT Project Manager for a multinational financial services company. Drawing on his experience in managing and implementing change, he hopes to contribute meaningful value to the PPG.
He opted for early retirement in 2015 and, aside from occasional volunteering, now divides his time between Cheltenham and London, where his elderly parent and grandchildren live.
An avid trekker and traveller, Sushil also enjoys a wide range of sports. He particularly values attending live sporting events, especially cricket, and serves as a committee member and website manager for the Cheltenham Cricket Society.
Sushil is very grateful for the exemplary care he has received over the past 30+ years from St George’s Surgery, including its doctors, nurses, and support staff. Being part of the PPG provides him with an opportunity to "give something back" by contributing his skills and experience in ways that hopefully benefits both the surgery and fellow patients.
PPG Member :- Felicity Hill
Fliss was born and brought up near Cheltenham. Having lived out of the area for 15 years, for part of this time living and working in Spain, she returned 20 years ago to settle down and raise a family. She has been a patient at St George’s Surgery since then.
Her studies and work with international students both here and abroad have led to an interest in different languages and cultures, in particular the relationship between language, identity and community. She has been a keen volunteer within her children’s school PTFA groups, including assisting with reading in the classroom and organising social and fundraising events. She is a great believer in the value of exercise for both physical and mental wellbeing and enjoys walking with her family in the local area.
PPG Member :- Frances Bennett
Frances has lived in the Cheltenham area since 2015, relocating from London, where she very much enjoyed her role as Head of Music in a wonderful preparatory school. Upon moving, she decided to set up her own business so she could work from home, where she now teaches piano, composition and music theory to visiting students of all ages.
Frances decided to join the PPG as she feels she has received excellent care from doctors and nurses at the practice, including management of complex health conditions. She is interested in the healthcare system and wishes to give back in some way.
Frances lives with her partner and recently-rescued Beagle, Amber. She is a book fanatic, reading and reviewing thrillers and crime novels in her spare time, often ahead of publication. She enjoys spending time outdoors, especially during the warmer months.
