HBSA Hospital Radio
| City of license | Kilmarnock |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | University Hospital Crosshouse |
| Frequency | Internal cable system |
| Format | Hospital Radio |
| Website | http://www.hbsaradio.com/ |
HBSA Hospital Radio, based in Crosshouse, is the hospital radio station for Crosshouse Hospital near Kilmarnock, Scotland.
The station have been broadcasting for over 25 years and began by pre-recording programmes on old disco units. Since beginning in 1980, HBSA has broadcast to Ayrshire Central Hospital, Ravenspark Hospital and Crosshouse Hospital. With only the latter now served.
Contents
History
HBSA was formally opened in 1980, and from its first programmes – which were pre-recorded on an old disco unit – the service has progressed to a volunteer-led organisation serving patients in Crosshouse Hospital, Kilmarnock. In the winter of 1994, HBSA had a major refit of the main studio thanks to a grant from the ITV telethon trust. This had a great effect on the station, enabling it to provide better programming and entertainment for the patients of North Ayrshire and Arran NHS trust. In 1995, the refit paid dividends as HBSA received the Scottish Region award in the BT Hospital Radio Awards Scheme. HBSA works closely with many outside organisations[who?] to provide a service to the patients.
Current
In 2007, HBSA Hospital Radio were awarded over £12,000 from NHS Ayrshire and Arran Staff Lottery to refurbish two on-air studios.
In late 2009, with low membership and almost no service, HBSA relocated from Ayrshire Central Hospital to new studios at Crosshouse Hospital. Since that time, HBSA has built its membership and its reputation to become the most listened to station with the hospital.
Again in 2015 HBSA received funding from NHS Ayrshire and Arran Staff Lottery fund for new equipment. HBSA has now a main broadcast studio equipped with the very latest S-Radio system from Clyde Broadcast. There is a second broadcast studio which doubles as a "live lounge" in which guests can rehearse and then perform live during shows.
HBSA is a volunteer-led registered charity; it typically takes around 30–35 volunteers to run the service. During off-air times and empty presenter slots, HBSA has its own custom-made recorded playout service. HBSA is operated by an elected committee of seven trustees, all of whom are also broadcasters on the station.
HBSA broadcasts on the Hospedia network which serves Crosshouse Hospital and the Maternity Unit.
Current Presenters (up to date as of November 2015)
- Alan Wallace
- Alyson Thomson
- Billy Withers
- Cait Marshall
- Chris Brown
- David Brown
- David Durham
- Adam Lyon
- Natasha Ewing
- Ellan Welsh & Gillian Daly
- Jed Boden
- Jennifer McLaren
- John Kelso
- John Kennedy
- John McNee
- John Surgenor
- Johnny Robertson
- Julie Findlay
- Kirsty Kane
- Lenny Harper
- Lois Robertson
- Lucy Telford
- Maggie Brown
- Margo Houston
- Pat Knapp
- Patrick Cassidy
- Paul Williams
- Robert Fraser
- Sandy Brown
- Scott O'Hare
- Simon Jenkinson
- Stevie Muir
- The Beard (AP Jones)
- The Jingleman (Mark Fisher)
- Zak McPherson
Previous Members
Several previous members of HBSA gone onto professional media careers.
- Colin McArdle (West FM)
- Gary Marshall (West Sound AM)
- Jakki Brambles (BBC Radio 1 and GMTV)
- Jamie Scott
- Lee Tait
- Gavin Wallace (Clyde 1 FM)
Fundraising
The station raises funds primarily through membership fees as all broadcasting members pay a small annual fee. HBSA also organizes fundraising events, principally it's annual series of "Big Bad Roadshows" which involve local acts performing live as well as presenters DJing and other presenters in mascot suits having dance competitions. HBSA has began to take sponsorship for shows and this has become another form of fund raising.
