| Broadcast area | Derriford Hospital and The Royal Eye Infirmary (Plymouth) |
|---|---|
| Frequency | FM: 87.7 MHz |
| First air date | 1969 |
| Format | Hospital |
| Owner | - |
| Website | [1] |
Hospital Radio Plymouth is a hospital radio station based in Plymouth, England. It provides entertainment to the patients of Derriford Hospital and The Royal Eye Infirmary, broadcasting via Patientline and on 87.7fm. The station holds a long term restricted service licence granted by Ofcom, allowing it to broadcast on FM. [1]
The station is run as a charity staffed by volunteers (registered charity number 260238).
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During the 1950s, Plymouth Argyle commentary was broadcast to the patients of Plymouth hospitals by the Toc H Organisation, via the telephone network. In 1967, requests began to be collected from Mount Gould Hospital by the Plymouth Lions Club, forming the basis of the first weekly music programme, Disc Date. On the 2nd October 1969, the station secured its first permanent premises on the Barbican and was officially opened as Hospital Radio Plymouth by Alderman George Creber, the then Lord Mayor. From 1969 to 1998, the station was housed at the Ladies' Hospital on Lockyer Street; Nelson Gardens; Greenbank Hospital and Freedom Fields Hospital. In 1998 it moved to Derriford Hospital, where it remains broadcasting to this day.
Hospital Radio Plymouth now broadcasts 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with over 60 hours of live programming every week. This consists of a mix of specialist music programmes; request shows live from the hospital wards; news programmes; speech based shows; classic comedy and sport. Patients can make requests directly to the studio from their bedside telephones. Plymouth Argyle home matches are presented on Argyle Live.
The station reaches out to the community at local events with its mobile Showstage, providing live entertainment and music. Recent events include Plymouth Hoe Bonfire Night, Music of The Night and The Lord Mayor's Day Parade.[2]
At the 2010 Hospital Broadcasting Association awards, the station won the Silver Award in the Station Of The Year category; the Bronze Award for Best Station Promotion and was commended for Best Speech Package.[3]
At the 2009 Inspiring Volunteering Awards held in Plymouth, the station was named as Volunteer Team of The Year.[4]
At the 2009 Hospital Broadcasting Association awards, several Hospital Radio Plymouth volunteers were honoured. Josh Andrews was named HBA Volunteer Of The Year, Josie Scobling received the silver award for Best Speech Package, Isobel King received a Highly Commended Award for Best Female Presenter and Josh Andrews was commended for Best Newcomer. The station won a Silver Award in the Station Of The Year category.[5]
At the 2008 Hospital Broadcasting Association awards, station volunteer Connal Cather received the John Whitney Lifetime Achievement Award for his service to the station since 1970. The station received the gold award as Station Of The Year.[6]
Previous presenters have included: Phillip Schofield (now works for ITV), Richard Latto (now BBC Radio Solent), Matt Lissack (now Red Dragon), Dave Gould (now Radio Pembrokeshire), Oliver Ings (now BBC Radio Devon), David Harber (Radio Consultant), Gavin Marshall (Radio Plymouth & Plymouth Pavilions), Sally Reader (Global Traffic Network Manager), Jane Atwill (now Radio Plymouth), Martin Mills (Heart South Hams), Roger Simpson (ITN and Radio Plymouth) and Ben Glover (now Galaxy South Coast).
Current presenters can be found on the organisation's website.