Is there a place today for hospital radio?

With competition from mobile phones, laptops and tablets, is there still a place for hospital radio? writes KEITH REEVES, from Torbay Hospital Radio.

The unerring answer is yes!

The influx of the portable devices through the years has had a detrimental impact.

Couple that with the battle for funding and the closure or merging of many UK hospitals, and the challenge is clear.

Hospital radio station numbers have fallen from 300 in the 1980s to less 200 today.

Torbay Hospital Radio is a charity, run by volunteers who consider themselves to be part of a family.

We have volunteers ranging in age from 20 to 60 plus and they didn’t join to be professional DJs but to communicate and try and help people who are going through a difficult time.

Our station is a long way from the big nationals but the team feel that it is more important than ever to provide entertainment for our patients.

We hope that patients see us as a friend outside of visiting hours and we try to provide a touch that they're not going to get from just other electronic devices or reading a magazine.

Also, we are all well aware that not everyone has the luxury of an electronic device, which can make a stay a bit tedious.

We believe that there is no other type of radio station where we can have such a personal relationship with the listeners.

The health benefits of hospital radio have been noted by the British Medical Association.

Helping people to feel better during their hospital stay can inspire recovery and help patients leave sooner.

These firm beliefs keep the team going.

Every volunteer pays an annual membership fee to provide these services but we rely on grants, sponsorships, and donations from the public to keep us on the air.

So, I hope you agree that there is a need for what we do, and that you will continue to support us.

While we all understand that these are difficult times for many financially, if you can help, please go to our website at www.Torbayhospitalradio.com where you will find our schedules and also our donations page, where you can donate or even sponsor a show if you wish.

You can catch our programs at 95.9FM if you are in the hospital or nearby, or you can listen in on the internet at Listen Live - Torbay Hospital Radio.

We are hoping to see your requests soon, so just contact us - text or WhatsApp to 07923 865012, email info@torbayhospitalradio.com or find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram