Formed in 1969 and first on the air in 1970,
the station was originally backed by the Lions Club of Walthamstow. We took out
independent charitable status in 1982 and now, as a registered charity, we aim to bring
comfort and entertainment to the patients (and staff) at Whipps Cross Hospital.  The hospital itself is classified as a large general acute unit with
over 800 beds and an average patient stay of 4 days.The station broadcasts 24 hours a day, 52 weeks a year in stereo. Our programmes include a nightly request show, several magazine format shows (including interviews with local luminaries and local news), a comprehensive sports programme on Saturdays (with commentary from local grounds) and even patient bingo! The speech to music ratio varies throughout the day (it is widely accepted that speech radio is expensive to produce) and musically the emphasis is always on playing patient requests. At least one show a night will gather fresh requests. Generally the feel of the music is towards an easy listening, familiar style. Our belief is that we are not here to play OUR favourite music, but that of our listeners. |
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 Central to many of the
programmes is the ability to broadcast live from the wards with a radio link and to talk
directly to the patients. We can also bring families and friends at home into the
programmes via the telephone (especially those who, for whatever reason, cannot visit
Whipps Cross in person).There are also outside broadcasts from the Whipps Cross Chapel and local music venues. Since 1980 the sports output has included reports from Leyton Orient’s Brisbane Road ground and the current Saturday afternoon sports show features live commentary from all Orient and West Ham home games. Support from the hospital management is excellent, though we obviously come way down the priority list and the number of listeners, although unpredictable, can be suprisingly high. If they do tune in they love it! |
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| Over the years the station has also had links to other local hospitals. At one time we broadcast on land lines to Chingford (1978-1982) and Wanstead (1978-1992) Hospitals – simultaneously with Whipps Cross. Technically our own engineers have taken-up responsibility for the distribution of programmes to the wards and the repair of ward bedside radio units and have provided the station with three broadcast standard, air-conditioned studios (Neve Audio mixing desks) and many extra facilities - satellite systems, radio links to the wards, telephone systems, a dubbing suite, a networked record library computer, outside broadcast mixers etc). There are approximately 50 paid-up volunteer members (we operate a subscription membership scheme for a nominal fee) with a management committee of 10. New members are initially asked to help around the wards for some time before being attached to a programme. We do all our own fundraising and organise annual events and have so far broadcast two RSLs (Restricted Service Licences) on FM to an area of 10 miles around Whipps Cross. In recent years the station has won nine trophies for its programmes at the annual BT Hospital Radio Awards (including U.K. Station of the Year 1995). We publish a Patients’ Guide colour magazine with information and photos of the station as well as articles of general interest. The first of these magazines was published back in 1980. Other promotional items produced for the station include t-shirts, pens, mugs and key rings.Long term we would like a low-power FM licence, more good presenters and reliable members (around 60 would be ideal). |
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| If you would like to contact us, our address
is: WHIPPS CROSS HOSPITAL RADIO Whipps Cross Hospital Leytonstone London E11 1NR |
If you would like to read the full history of the station, follow the link below: |
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| Telephone: +44 (0)20 8535 6997 Fax: +44 (0)20 8535 6493 |
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