Watford Hospital Radio News

Improved Radio Service for Patients at Watford General Hospital

Watford Hospital Radio (WHR) has been running for over 50 years and was one of the earliest Hospital Radio initiatives in the country, having commenced broadcasting in 1955 from a broom cupboard in the Peace Memorial Hospital - now the Peace Hospice.

However, despite some exciting talent on the airwaves and an ever-growing list of people requesting air-time, WHR has for some time suffered a lack of funding. This has stifled the development of its technical facilities with the result that, until recently, it was able to broadcast only to patients at Watford General.

BUT…. the airwaves are now pulsing with excitement as plans drawn up by the WHR committee culminated in the launch of Watford Hospital Radio on-line at 10:00am on 13^th December 2008.

“The on-line service is a great step forward for WHR”, says Andy Wernham, Chairman of Watford Hospital Radio, adding: “As well as continuing to serve the patients and staff at the hospital, it means we are now broadcasting to a much wider audience, potentially anywhere in the world”.

One of the most important reasons for digital development is the increased contact patients will now have with their friends and loved ones, who can email or phone-in messages and requests from anywhere in the world.

WHR has always offered a wide range of programming ranging from golden oldies to shows featuring new, signed and unsigned bands from across the country. With the opening of the on-line station, regular news bulletins are included in its repertoire.

Members of the WHR Committee have worked hard with a raffle and local pub collections to secure the £2500 needed to get this new service ‘on air’.

“These developments open up all sorts of exciting new opportunities,” says Andy, “The most important being the enhanced opportunity for interaction between patients and their supporters”.

WHR are doing their very best to improve the service that patients receive during their stay at Watford General”.

Requests are played between 7pm and 10pm weekday evenings and from mid-day until 10pm at weekends.
Take this link to send an email request:

WHR is a registered Charity. They appreciate your support in any way you feel albe to help.

You can contact the studio by phone on 01923 217261 (+44 1923 217261 from abroad).

Click here to listen to WHR on-line LIVE

This article was created on Wednesday, 17th December 2008. It was last tinkered with on Saturday, 20th December 2008.

This is the 35th issue of Flea Magazine in Watford. The on-line version of the articles includes additional content that we couldn't fit into the printed version. You can see the individual articles and additional material by selecting from the titles below.

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Inside Watford Flea 205

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