Volunteers set to return to the wards to take requests
Music while he works – : Graeme Ferguson, HBS broadcaster
By Lucy Ashton
Glasgow’s Hospital Broadcasting Service (HBS), which recently celebrated its 50th birthday, has scooped up multiple awards at a national competition.
The volunteer run service, whose DJs can be heard across acute sites, picked up three awards at the UK Hospital Radio Awards thanks to DJ Hannah Gilchrist who won Best Newcomer, and DJ Graeme Ferguson who took the Bronze in Specialist music category Award. The station rounded off its winning streak with another Gold for its ‘HBS at 50’ documentary, marking 50 years of service.
The HBS team has long been a familiar site on the wards and the airwaves of NHSGGC hospitals – regularly visiting patients to take requests for the evening show, The Open Line.
Unfortunately due to COVID-19 the face-to-face service was temporarily suspended, but looks set to relaunch in coming weeks as restrictions are now eased on visiting.
In the meantime, patients can continue to request songs on the HBS website here, or through the tablet devices available on all wards.
Arwel Williams, Director for NHSGGC’s South Sector said:
“The Hospital Broadcasting Service has been keeping our patients and staff company for many years now, and it’s a valuable source of entertainment. For patients, having that extra engagement thanks to the volunteer teams who come around the wards is really important and they always enjoy listening to the show to hear their requests played. We look forward to welcoming the volunteers back onto the wards in coming weeks so they can once again start taking requests from our inpatients.
Niall Anderson, Chairman of Hospital Broadcasting Service, said:
“We are all really pleased the judges at the national awards recognised the hard work all our volunteers put in to make the radio station something special for the hospital patients who are our core audience. We look forward to coming back onto the wards and engaging with the patients face-to-face and providing them with some great music and entertainment to keep them company during what can be a difficult time for them.”
Top picture: Blast from the past – Bob Danvers Walker with members of the Vale of Leven Hospital Radio team. Included in the picture are Hospital Secretary James Campbell, Nairn McArthur, Sam Graham and the Douglas twins. Anyone know any more names?