- Friday 11th March, 2016
Hospital radio is a fine tradition. It has been found to be beneficial to patients, lifting their mood and accelerating recovery. There are hundreds of hospital radio stations in the UK, almost all of which are members of the Hospital Broadcasting Association (HBA). Hospital radio stations are usually staffed and managed by volunteers. The first unit in the United Kingdom was installed at York County Hospital in 1925 which means that it has now been running in the UK for ninety years.
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| Photo by Mark Hillary, used under Creative Commons licence. |
Our own Croydon University Hospital radio, known as ‘Radio Mayday,’ ran for more than forty years. This is a testament to all of the volunteers who put so much effort into it. We particularly remember Radio Mayday chairman, David March, who tragically lost his life in an accident in Snowdonia in 2013.
Thoughout their history, dedicated hospital radio stations have greatly improved the lives of patients, but Radio Mayday was was forced to cease broadcasting in October 2014 when its contract with Hospedia, suppliers of analogue bed side play-out units, came to an end.
I believe that now is the time to bring Croydon’s hospital radio up to date. I want to see it return to the wards, bigger and better than before, using audio, video, and a website to connect the devices of patients, families, and staff with a fabulous multimedia experience that can be broadcast not only to patients but also to families and staff, supported by advertising and sponsorship.
Hospital radio can play a vital role in patient recovery
I joined the Radio Mayday team myself only five years ago. As someone who has been treated for a serious medical condition at CUH, I’ve been proud and delighted to see the hospital trust making significant improvements to patient care and feel proud to have been involved during these last few years. more
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