Visit any hospital and it will be as quiet as a doormouse, well almost. Aside from the emergency ward, the children's ward and hustle and bustle, a hospital tends to be a quiet place allowing its temporary residents the ability to recover and rehabilitate.
There is however a secret to many of the UK's hospitals, hidden within the walls and in a room full of electronics, and that is the offering of Hospital Radio run by volunteers for the inpatients to enjoy while they stay.
One such hidden hospital radio which can be accessed by ear from every bed in the hospital, is Hospital Radio Hillingdon which first went on air in 1970.
In over forty years of broadcasting the station now delivers, music, programmes, humour and chat twenty fours hours a day, seven days a week - yes even right through the Christmas period.
David Brown and John Mandrak started what was to become an achievement in hospital radio history. After countless of volunteer DJs have passed the seat on to the next. Today several amateur and professional radio artists keep the show going all year round. Several of which can be pin pointed for the jovial personalities and ability to bring a smile to the most hard weary patient. Stepping into the fray every day at Midnight, comes The Comedy Hour with Ray Oxley which is sandwiched inbetween a creative compilation managed by the computer and Chris Green.
It is not always possible for a volunteer DJ to be live on hospital radio so the computer takes over during these hours. That however doesn't take away the personalisation on offer. You can phone in any time to request a piece of music to be played or visit their website to ask.
Each morning you can usually tune in to hear Steve Hickman, you might recognise him but as it's the radio you'll have to think hard where you heard his voice. While volunteering as a hospital radio DJ he also works for the London Ambulance Service NHS Trust. There are so many more people involved in Hospital Radio Hillingdon, Richard Smith is a bit of long distance operator. He devised the A to Z of Pop, which is on offering of music collations that many hospitals can play and have access to. With different variations for different times of the year.
Another name to listen out for is Terry Savage, Jenna Brown and Michelle Denman and who could forget the request show with Colin Moore. You no longer need to be admitted to Hillingdon Hospital to be able to listen to the Hospital Radio, simply visit their website and listen live online.