Stories and snippets of information taken from the staff newsletter and from behind the scenes.
A look back at 2005 at Radio Heatherwood and all the events of the year.
A surprise is sprung on the station engineer, and the wine flows.
Breakdowns with the bed head system, leaky roofs, training at full stretch and the web site, all feature as major events in 2005 .
11th January and the radio service is off air as the patient power bedhead system suffers a breakdown.
The service went off sometime between Saturday lunch time and Tuesday evening when it was discovered.
Service was restored by the following Saturday.
All staff sign a new contract with the trust adhering to their requirements for volunteers.
A revision to the training companion is made available to all staff for download.
In early February Mondays re-open with a brand new broadcasting team. Sarah Irving, Peter Stephens, Ian Shephard, And Lucy Walker.
At a recent league of friends meeting the league approved the move of the web sites from the free service to an ISP who will allow us to put forms on the web site as well as more content. The league has agreed to fund the monthly costs for both sites.
In March Wednesdays is closed out as staff leave
In April rhapsody fails due to a hard disk failure, radio 2 is provided for a week whilst a repair is implemented.
In early May a leak in the roof of the reception of the radio station causes damage to the ceiling and floor. Damage also caused to the ceiling in engineering and the library.
By the end of May all old emails are ditched in favour of the new domain name addresses supplied with the new pay web sites.
Rhapsody service gains 21 WD2 shows previously broadcast in the eighties these have been added to the Sunday nights Ovaltineys programs.
Patient power options on terminal change in June, without warning rendering recent posters and leaflets useless.
Back to Top2005 was a very busy year for the station management and as the year unfolded there was much to do and organise
For further information about this year:- Follow the links
At the end of July 7 new recruits are in various stages of training.
The web site has an on-line application form for all new recruits. The shortened version allows us to assess whether it's worth sending out an application form. The potential volunteer receives an automatic email immediately and hopefully this will save us some postage money.
We are now up to 99% of input from presenters which is the first for us. The web site has been running for 4 years now.Some changes to all the pages have been taking place over the last few weeks.
Two major improvements are the on-line application form for new recruits and the second an on-line form for people to send a request to someone in Heatherwood. These forms as well as making it easier for visitors will produce confirmation emails to the originator automatically and also send copies to whoever is listed.
This in mind the request form will generate emails to team leaders Roge, Shep And Dave, and the original to me with a confirmation to the request originator. The idea for this, if the patient selects your night for the request, it will be up to your team to see that the request is played. If there are any problems I will reply to the originator.
30 Years Of Radio Heatherwood
Next June Radio Heatherwood will be 30 years old. In preparation of this event I am looking at having some professional sung jingles which will id radio Heatherwood. In addition we will be looking at having a special all day broadcast plus having some memorabilia made up.
Helen Reports:-
Doing the patient request rounds last night an elderly lady on Ward 5 said the following to me:
“You all do such a wonderful job at the radio. It is so nice to have somebody come and talk to me and break up the monotony of my day”
Her husband was visiting her and also thanked me for coming over to talk to them. They ended up requesting a Vera Lynn tune.
Saturday 3rd September Margaret on Ward 4 donates £5 to the radio.
In early September PJ is surprised with a party to celebrate 25 years service to the radio.
Back to TopIn early December cabling contractors adding more cables to the fascia of the radio premises causes more damage to the already leaky roof.
Ian writes:-
Eric on ward four has said on a number of occasions that he listens to RH every single day and enjoys the cross section of music we offer. His favourite record is “on my own” by Pattie Labelle and Michael McDonald and always request this.
Eric won the mug on Tuesday 30 August and he was thrilled to bits. He also said how friendly and helpful we are.
This kind of comment makes Hospital radio a very worth while cause.
Web Site
The web site has been added to again and new pages for the party have been added. In addition new information links for rhapsody have been added.
A new promotion for a local support group in Bracknell will be part of the patient info's shortly. In addition the web site now carries links to the web sites for all those campaigns currently running as well a home made page for the ostomates promotion which is due to start.
I have just had this email from the coordinator.
Dear Peter,
Thank you so much for your recent e-mail and the wonderful introduction to the web site.You have been fantastic with your support and I was thrilled to see so much information about the support group “up on the web”.
My sincere and grateful thanks. “Jackie ”
A revised laminated poster with the new logging on instructions for patient bed head terminal have been produced. These were added to the wards by the presenting staff.
Ostomates Group
As mentioned last month we have put up a web page for them and also I sent a copy of the liners to Jackie the coordinator. She replied with:-
My dear Peter,
I returned after a few days away to find that the postman has delivered the most amazing package !! What can I say - I am absolutely thrilled with the disc and all it contains. I have to admit to playing it again and again - you make the support group sound just great and I am sure that including it in your broadcasts will have a huge impact.
I shall keep in contact and let you know.
I really don't have the words to express my sincere thanks for such a generous gesture - to include the information in your programme's is more than I could ever have hoped for........................thank you.
Jackie
Pathe News
John Murphy has completed over 138 news stories to be used in the Down the decades 60's and seventies programs on rhapsody These are available to be used in your programs if you wish.
On-Line Request
The first user of the on-line request form has taken place this last month the request came from Marie's daughter. Marie a patient on ward 4 was the recipient. The record played was Good Vibrations Beach Boys. Once filled out on-line, the web site sends a confirmation to the sender and a copy to each of the team leaders.
Marie mug winner on Ward 4 donates £5 to the radio.
Staff Joining This Year 8 Staff Leaving 7
Archive Gems
Just some extra's we found:-
Email Requests
Subject: I would like to send a message to My Friend/Relative in Heatherwood
Hello Radio Heatherwood
Please play Cockney Rebel Come Up & See Me for Graham Keen ward 5
luv from Sylvia, Liz, Simon , Dan, Will & Nutty xxxxxxxxxxx
Email Requests
Subject: I would like to send a message to My Friend/Relative in Heatherwood
Could you play any thing by Daniel O'Donnell for Ethel Pendry in Ward 5.
Ethel is recovering from a knee operation. Probably best to play it for her tomorrow as she is a bit sleepy at the moment.
Ethel is a real trouper at 82, always independent but a great friend to my husband and I, tell her we will see her soon.
Thanks
Gaynor and Brian Steer
Email Requests
Subject: I would like to send a message to My Friend/Relative in Heatherwood
The request to be played for Marie Kibble who is on ward Ward 4
They would like a record by Beach Boys and the song Good Vibrations if not second choice of Beatles All You need is Love
Just in case you missed the last attempt, I thought I'd have another go. Please hurry up and come out, to save me having to think of any more song titles!
Hope to see you at home very soon now.
All our love, from Sally and the boys.
Feedback
Many thanks for that - I'm pleased to tell you that Mum heard the request just before she left, and is now home and recovering well.
Keep up the good work - I know all your efforts are much appreciated by the patients.
Kind regards
Sally
2005 The Story Continues!
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