Inverness Hospital Radio


Inverness Hospital Radio is a volunteer run radio station serving Raigmore Hospital and the Royal Northern Infirmary in Inverness, Scotland. The station broadcasts 7 days a week and welcomes requests and dedications for patients. The station has been in service since 1970 and has a dedicated studio. The station received the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in 2012. there are around 35 volunteers.

History

Inverness Hospital Radio is the working name for Inverness Hospitals Broadcasting Service. The station first went on air on 2 November 1970 with a pre-recorded show broadcast to the patients in the RNI and Raigmore Hospital. A small room in the RNI became the first studio of Radio Inverness in 1975. Since 22 August 1979 they have been a registered charity.
The station moved to a brand new studio in Raigmore Hospital in 1998. At that point they were operating with approximately 50 volunteers although this has reduced to 35 volunteers in 2015.

Programming

The station now broadcasts 24 hours a day, with live shows between 8pm and 10pm every day, with up to 11 hours of live broadcasts on some days.

Awards

In 2012 the station received the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service.
Donnie Aird, one of the founders who has been involved throughout the station's 40 year history, was presented with The John Whitney Award at the 2014 Hospital Broadcasting Association awards. This award recognises outstanding contributions to Hospital Radio over a period of years.
The station is a registered charity