Monday, April 6, 1970

Hospital radio may get national links

HOSPITAL PATIENTS will soon be receiving more interesting and varied radio programmes from their area's voluntary hospital broadcasting service.

At a meeting in Hull Royal Infirmary yesterday representatives of hospital radio stations all over the country decided to keep in touch with each other as members of the National Association of Hospital Broadcasting organizations.

The association was formed after dissolution of the National Association of Hospital Broadcasting Services, which only allowed membership on a regional basis, and of which only the Yorkshire region was the only member.

INTER-CITY QUIZ

Hospital broadcasters in other countries were too few or simply unwilling to join on a regional basis. It is hoped that the new organization will encourage individual services to join.

Patients all over the country would be able to compete in an Inter-City quiz, exchange messages with distant relatives more easily, and listen to on-the-spot coverage of away football matches more frequently that they can at present

At a meeting earlier in the day the Yorkshire regional branch of the National Association of Hospital Broadcasting Services was dissolved.

EXCHANGE IDEAS

Mr Kenneth Fulstow, newly elected chairman of the National Association and secretary of the Hull and East Riding branch. Said the exchange of ideas could make programmes more interesting and improve working techniques.

Concessions from record companies and firms would also be more readily available

Delegates heard a talk by Mr Aad van der Struijs, from Holland's Hospital Broadcasting Service, who presented an engraved trophy to the newly formed association.

Officers elected were: Chairman. Mr Kenneth Fulstow (Hull); Treasurer. Mr Peter Ward (Pontefract); Secretary. Mrs Elisabeth Webb (Heavy Woolen district); committee, Mr Alec Smith (Durham), Mr Dave Jamieson (Edinburgh), for one year; Mr Brian Snowdon (York), Mr K Sketheway (South Shields), for two years.