Hospital radio expands its scope with wireless speakers and website (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Hospital radio expands its scope with wireless speakers and website

12:00pm Sunday 10th March 2013 in News

Chippenham Hospital Radio relaunched last Saturday with a new website and new wireless speakers, making it easier for patients and staff to tune in.

Patients previously needed a set of headphones to listen in but now speakers have been placed across the hospital, including the minor injuries unit, the birthing centre and waiting rooms.

The radio, which is run by a team of around a dozen volunteers, is also celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.

To celebrate, the radio, which airs a wide variety of programmes from quizzes to interviews, will be playing music from 1983 to 2013 over the next two weekends.

Funding to install wifi points around the hospital was covered by insurance company Zurich, which donated more than £1,500, and Westlea Housing donated £1,000 to buy wifi radio units.

Although the manufacturer had stopped making that model of unit, chairman Ally Colley was able to find a supply at a fraction of the original retail price.

The new system will also bring the radio to a wider audience. Now staff can listen in and, thanks to the new website, people at home can stream programmes online.

Station manager Simon Hyde said: “It’s been a long journey for us as this is something we have been desperate to achieve for a number of years but the technology and resources haven’t been available until recently.”

Volunteer and marketing officer Donna Liggins said: “Our primary audience is the patients and staff within the hospital. But we’re hoping that with our new website we will build up an audience outside the hospital, because it’s the only station that’s local in Chippenham.”