A hospital radio station on the Wirral is celebrating its 60th birthday by switching on a new mediumwave transmitter.
Radio Clatterbridge originally formed in 1951 has grown to provide programmes 24 hours a day and can now be heard locally on 1386AM.
Wirral’s Cultural Ambassador Mike McCartney switched on the new service at exactly 1pm in front of a number of guests from the various organisations based at Clatterbridge. He also read the out first request on the new service for a patient at the oncology centre.
He said: “Thank you for Radio Clatterbridge being sixty years old! I am over the moon to be pressing a rather big red button to turn on Radio Clatterbridge 1386AM!”
Chairman Steve Lord said: “Radio Clatterbridge 1386AM is all about the listeners and music is often the best therapy. In these days of the internet and iPods, patients still appreciate hearing their name and favourite song on the radio. We can help relieve their boredom and take their minds off their stay. We are delighted that, for the first time, the young people at Claire House, those staying at St John’s Hospice and many others will be able to enjoy the great service we already offer to some patients at Clatterbridge.”
Programme Controller Paul Johnston added: “As well as playing requests and entertaining patients and staff, we will also be giving a voice to the different organisations at the Health Park by promoting and celebrating their work. Every single day staff are making a massive difference to people’s lives, and we want to reflect this as much as possible in our programmes. If something is happening at the Health Park, you’ll hear about it on Radio Clatterbridge 1386AM.”
Funding for the new system has been provided by Wirral University Teaching Hospital and Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology with help from the Clatterbridge Hospitals League of Friends.
Posted on Monday, November 7th, 2011 at 11:23 pm by RadioToday UK