Hospital Radio Tunbridge Wells delivers "personal touch"
More than 40 volunteers work on the air and behind the scenes to bring patients at Kent and Sussex and Tonbridge Cottage hospitals a mixture of music, information and sports coverage.
Broadcasting from studios at the Kent and Sussex Hospital, the output is fed on special land lines to the patient's bedsides and, in some rooms, through speakers.
A team of music request collectors walk the wards everyday asking patients what they would like played, and with the station's 86,000-track library, they are spoilt for choice.
Programme controller Chris Manser, 42, who has been with the station for 27 years, said tailoring the service to the patient is what made hospital radio so special.
He added: "Hospital radio is such a personal thing.
"When people are in hospital they can feel vulnerable, a little bit scared and lonely. Taking song requests involves the patient and gives them extra contact.
"When they pick a song and we play it for them it can provide a morale boost.
"Studies have even shown that hearing your song can help with the recovery process."
The station's origins can be traced back to 1961 when a team of women at the Kent and Sussex hospital entertained patients with a request show called Strictly Off The Record.
Since then, the station has undergone a number of name changes, a few studio moves and had its fair share of highlights.
In 1973, Cliff Richard lent his support by paying for a line to be installed from the Assembly Hall Theatre to allow concerts to be broadcast to patients.
In 2003, the station obtained a grant from the National Lottery's Awards For All Scheme, to equip the studio with a sophisticated computer system which allowed for a continuous service.
And nearly three years ago, the charity's broadcast went out live online –, a landmark Mr Manser felt would go along way to reaching more people.
He said: "Anyone can tune in and listen live on the station's website. It's a great way to reach former patients and promote the station."
The team is always on the look out for more volunteers and they recently held a Come and See open day event for anybody who wanted to find out more.
There will also be an all-day information and collection event at Morrisons supermarket in Crowborough tomorrow (Saturday).
Mr Manser added: "We always encourage new people to help out.
"There is a real satisfaction in doing some good for others. It is a very valuable service.
"You often sit there and wonder who is actually listening but then you hear all the fantastic stories about how much the music and programmes made patients feel better."
For more information or to listen live, visit the hospital's website on www.this iskent.co.uk/tunbridgewells and click on this story's link.
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