Still On-Air: Hospital radio, carrying on

Radio Brockley @ Oliver Devine

A Hidden Part of the NHS

Britain is home to 200 hospital radio stations, a forgotten arm of the NHS frontline. Inspired by post-war optimism, volunteers began collaborating to create makeshift studios in hospital basements and disused clinical spaces. Hospital radio provides relief from the bland and clinical environment of hospital wards, entertaining and interacting with patients. These stations can usually be found in dark hospital basements and built underneath stairwells. Although these locations sound uninviting and eerie, each studio hosts a buzzing family of volunteers presenting quizzes and running a request playlist of music from patients on the wards.

Origins Before the NHS

Hospital radio began before the conception of the NHS. As patient numbers and hospital capacity increased, more studios opened, prompting the formation of the Hospital Broadcasting Association (HBA), a body to support the stations by providing grants and bursaries. The HBA became a vital funding source amidst NHS budget cuts. Radio stations like Northwick Park Radio (RNP) were among the many that underwent essential transformations in the 2010s with the introduction of streaming services.

Digital Transition and New Challenges

Stations had to diversify their services, switching from FM to digital to reach their audience, as patients no longer had access to headphones previously provided by the NHS. Northwick Park welcomed the new Radio Harrow in the 1971 studio once home to RNP and began broadcasting digitally and through the NHS intranet. Radio Harrow is one of the lucky ones to have its 54-year-old studio upgraded, funded by donations and grants. Like many others, it now serves the hospital and the wider community.

What Hospital Radio Offers That Streaming Can’t

The development of streaming services poses challenges for all broadcasting platforms, but an impact report by the HBA found a significant difference in what hospital radio can offer. Radio Harrow, for example, offers up to six live shows per day, including Breakfast, a daily show with games, music, local events, and call-ins, as well as special shows such as Self-care Saturday and Culture Corner, which explores global cultures.

Stations in Decline

Although hospital radio is loved by those who need it, it is in decline, with 350 stations reduced to just 200. Technological challenges, ward closures, and hospital restructuring have raised the cost of radio stations occupying space within hospital sites, resulting in closures. Choice Radio, which served Worcestershire Royal, moved its studio to a garden shed before closing during the pandemic due to a lack of space for clinical use.

Not Just a Radio Station

Volunteer-Led and Community-Driven

Each station comprises an eccentric team of volunteers who produce original and relevant content. Volunteers typically include students, retirees, and upstanding community members.

A Measurable Impact on Patient Well-being

The Hospital Broadcasting Association commissioned an impact report, a study involving over 250 individuals, including patients, staff, and volunteers. The study revealed a significant impact on psychosocial health outcomes. Patients benefited from face-to-face interactions with radio volunteers, which provided social interaction in an otherwise clinical and anonymous environment.

A Strong Return on Social Investment

For those focused on financial value, the return on investment is notable: for every £1 the NHS spends on supporting radio volunteers, it gets back around £11 worth of social benefits in the form of reduced patient stress, shorter recovery times, and fewer complaints, according to The King's Fund. The study also found a positive impact of social interaction in 89% of stations.

Connection That Matters

Personalization and human interaction, free from commercial interests, are invaluable in hospitals. Social isolation is a widespread issue in healthcare settings and can negatively affect patients’ health. One NHS ward sister shared how valuable it is to have a reason to spend time with patients, describing how staff will sit with them when their song request plays — a small gesture with a significant return.

Support the Soundtrack of Recovery

Hospital radio stations are more than background noise — they are lifelines for thousands of patients, volunteers, and hospital staff. As funding and space become harder to find, these stations need your support to survive.