Southampton Hospital Radio launches free app to reach more listeners
The volunteer-run station, which has been broadcasting for more than 70 years, will now be able to reach listeners beyond the hospital through the free app.
Listeners can tune in from anywhere, whether at home, in the community, or on the go.
Simon Carter, a presenter at Southampton Hospital Radio, said: "What I really love is that there's no need to log in - you just tap the app and you're instantly connected.
Abby Oakley behind the mic at Southampton Hospital Radio studio (Image: Southampton Hospital Radio) "It's quick, easy, and the sound quality is absolutely fantastic."
Previously, the station was available mainly through bedside TV units, limiting its reach to hospital patients.
The app now allows anyone to access live broadcasts, request songs and dedications, and view the full programme schedule.
Users can also enjoy exclusive hospital podcasts, presenter blogs, and updates on both station and hospital news.
READ MORE: Only Fools and Horses star to bring festive fun to Fareham Live panto
Aaron Jacobs, another presenter, said: "This app is so much more than just a new way to listen - it brings our healthcare community closer together.
"Whether you're a patient, or just stumbled across us, it offers an easy, instant connection to something familiar and comforting.
"By downloading it, you're not just tuning in - you're becoming part of a shared experience that supports and uplifts everyone within healthcare in Southampton."
For those in hospital, the app also offers live commentary of Southampton FC matches.
The station has been serving patients, families, and staff since 1952.
It broadcasts 24 hours a day from Normand House and is run entirely by volunteers.
Listeners can download the free app by visiting shradio.uk/app or by searching for "Southampton Hospital Radio" in their device's app store.
Southampton Hospital Radio is a member of the National Hospital Broadcasting Association and has received the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service.
The station describes itself as a "vital presence within the Southampton healthcare community," offering entertainment, information, and companionship to listeners across hospitals, care homes, hospices, and treatment centres.
The launch marks a significant step in expanding the charity's reach and impact, making its services more accessible to the wider community.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
an hour ago
- Associated Press
David Nabarro, British physician who led UN response to Ebola and COVID-19, dies
GENEVA (AP) — Dr. David Nabarro, a British physician who led the U.N. response to some of the biggest health crises in recent years, including bird flu, Ebola and the coronavirus pandemic, has died. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization, confirmed Nabarro's death on social media platform X. 'David was a great champion of global health and health equity, and a wise, generous mentor to countless individuals,' Tedros wrote Saturday. 'His work touched and impacted so many lives across the world.' King Charles knighted Nabarro in 2023 for his contributions to global health after he served as one of six special envoys to the WHO on COVID-19. He won the 2018 World Food Prize for his work on health and hunger issues. He also was a candidate for the top job at the WHO in 2017 but lost out to Tedros in the final round of voting. Nabarro left the U.N. later that year. The 4SD Foundation, a social enterprise in Switzerland focused on mentoring the next generation of leaders in global sustainable development, said its strategic director died at his home Friday in a 'sudden passing.' Other details were not immediately available. 'David's generosity and unwavering commitment to improve the lives of others will be sorely missed,' the foundation wrote on its website Saturday. Survivors include his wife, Flo, as well as his five children and seven grandchildren.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
'I'm utterly lost': Patients' anger over doctors strike cancellations
The resident doctors strike in England has begun after a dispute over pay between the government and the British Medical Association (BMA). Thousands of doctors are walking out over five days, with Health Secretary Wes Streeting insisting that disruption will be kept to a minimum. But several NHS patients have told the BBC they fear their conditions could become worse after delays to scheduled procedures, while some have also expressed sympathy over the concerns the doctors are raising. Peter Plant, 58, of Tamworth, who has kidney cancer, said his surgery to remove the organ on Friday was cancelled on Thursday morning. The operation has been rescheduled for 20 August, but he fears the delay could be a "death sentence". "Resident doctors do not care that delaying operations like mine are very likely a death sentence," he said. "I'm absolutely angry and frustrated. It is not just about me, it's about our whole family. "You try and gear yourself up for it and then it's utter deflation." Mr Plant said he and his family had been living in "limbo" and that he felt "utterly lost". "Wes Streeting says he has told hospitals to carry on as normal and they're clearly not," he added. Official figures have not yet been released on the impact of the strike. Some hospitals are reporting more than 80% of their non-urgent work is still being carried out. Previous walkouts have led to mass cancellations of operations, appointments and treatments: more than one million were cancelled during resident doctor strikes in March 2023 and routine care was cut by half at some hospitals. 'My three-year-old needs surgery now' Hassnain Shahid, from Bradford, said his three-year-old daughter urgently needed lung surgery but it had been indefinitely postponed - despite medical warnings about the risks of delay. "It's been an emotional rollercoaster and it's very frustrating for us," Mr Shahid said. Mr Shahid's daughter has Congenital Pulmonary Airway Malformation (CPAM), a rare lung condition. He said consultants told him surgery was urgent and that it was important it took place in the summer when there was less chance his daughter could catch a cold. "Now we've been told the surgery has been cancelled and they have no availability - not even in September," he said. "They were the ones that said she needed to have it done. "I understand why the doctors are striking, but when you take this path and you go to university you know how much you're going to earn - if you're not happy with the pay, look at an alternative career." Repeated delays to surgery Sarah, a patient from the north-west of England, said she was due to have a hysterectomy - an operation to remove her uterus - on Monday but it had been cancelled for a second time. "They don't have a rescheduled date for me at this time," she said. "It's very hard when you have been mentally preparing yourself for major surgery, especially as I was first told that I needed one in November 2024." Andrew Mundy, 58, from Lincoln, expressed fears that repeated delays to his tendon surgery could leave him permanently injured. He injured his knee in early February and was given an initial date for surgery at the end of May, which he said was cancelled because the consultant was on holiday. The surgery was rearranged for Friday but was cancelled because of the strike, he said. "I am furious and aware that every delay in surgery will make the chances of a successful repair even less likely," he said. "It is not fair that I may never recover from this injury due to delays in treatment. "It's frustrating because [the NHS] say that they are not cancelling stuff and things are running as normal, but they are cancelling stuff." Michele, from Somerset, has been waiting three years for spinal surgery. She has been told her appointment, which had been scheduled for Thursday, has been cancelled, which she believes is down to the strikes. Michele said she suffers "constant" and "relentless" nerve pain down the left side of her body. "I feel I've been let down, I feel like I'm not worth it. It's knocked me," she said. Michele said she had taken sick leave from work for more than a fortnight, having already taken a step back from her leadership role to work part-time from home due to the pain. "It's got to the point so I can't even do that now. It's really affecting my life," she added. John Dixon, 81, from the Isle of Wight, said he found out that his knee operation scheduled for Friday at Southampton General Hospital was cancelled with just three hours' notice. Mr Dixon said he was already on the ferry to Southampton when he received a call from the hospital informing him of the cancellation. "How can the NHS treat patients like this?" he said. "They must have [had] a good idea [on Thursday] without letting people go on long journeys just to return home." Michael Overson, from Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, has been waiting three years for a knee operation and found out on Friday his surgery, which had been scheduled for Tuesday, had been cancelled. Mr Overson is a delivery driver for a national supermarket chain and says the delay means he will have to "continue living and working in pain". "This places me in limbo as I have no idea when it'll be rearranged. I can't plan anything," he said. "The increased costs the strikes cause only causes greater harm to the NHS." Dr Tom Dolphin, the chairman of the BMA, said before the action began that "we are very sorry that strikes have become necessary". "Of course if people have emergencies or need urgent care they should still present to the hospital or their GP as usual, as they always would," he said. "Striking is something that doctors don't want to have to do." Additional reporting by Bernadette McCague, Mary Litchfield, Rozina Sini and Kris Bramwell NHS faces challenging few days during doctors strike, warns Streeting Why are resident doctors striking and what are they paid?
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Free summer swimming lessons for 6,000 children
More than 6,000 children across Wiltshire will be eligible for free swimming lessons this summer as part of a pilot scheme. The lessons have been made available to children who are part of Wiltshire Council's FUEL programme, as well as pupils in secondary schools who received free school meals. Up to 10 lessons will be provided at council-run leisure centres with a pool, such as Marlborough Leisure Centre and Calne Community Campus. Councillor Jon Hubbard, cabinet member for education at Wiltshire Council, said "a few pennies behind the sofa" helped pay for the scheme. More news stories for Wiltshire Listen to the latest news for Wiltshire Mr Hubbard told BBC Radio Wiltshire the extra money for the swimming lessons cost £45,000, and money had been used from Public Health England funding and the children's services budget. "For some of our young people who have six or seven weeks at home without school, having these positive and fun activities for them to go and take part in is a really important thing we offer", he said. "I want them to have fun. I want them to have positive activities to be able to look back on and say, 'that was a really cracking time we've had'. "And to have made new friendships, had a positive experience and something they can build happy memories." He said schools would have told parents whether they were eligible, and sent out an invitation for the FUEL programme. Parents of children eligible for free school meals needed to show proof of the entitlement at a pool. A full list of the swimming pools at which the lessons will be held can be found here: Bradford on Avon Calne Community Campus Devizes Leisure Centre Durrington Swimming and Fitness Centre Five Rivers Health and Wellbeing Centre Lime Kiln Leisure Centre, Royal Wootton Bassett Marlborough Leisure Centre Melksham Community Campus Olympiad Leisure Centre, Chippenham Springfield Community Campus, Corsham The Activity Zone, Malmesbury The Vale Community Campus, Pewsey Tidworth Leisure Centre Trowbridge Sports Centre Warminster Sports Centre Westbury Pool Wiltshire Council said the scheme would be reviewed in autumn after it finished. Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. More on this story Health Hydro pool work is almost completed Soldiers beat choppy waters in Channel swim Nature reserve to be 'transformed' with £100k boost Related Internet Links Wiltshire Council
