SOUTHEND Hospital’s own radio station saw in the New Year with more than 40 hours of non-stop broadcasting.

Southend Hospital Radio took on ‘The Big Broadcast’, which saw more than 35 hospital radio stations across the country link together to keep patients entertained for a 42 hour marathon broadcast.

Between the Christmas and New Year period, volunteers were broadcasting programmes to the patients at Southend University Hospital, including the station’s two youngest presenters, 11-year-olds Kara and Kathryn.

Their show, the ‘Southend Hospital Radio Kids at Christmas’ kept the youngsters on Neptune Ward entertained with a mix of music and Christmas cracker jokes.

Southend Hospital Radio’s Chairman, Pete Sipple, said: “We know it’s not a great time to be in hospital and we hope that our mix of live shows, messages, features and requested songs kept patients entertained over the festive period.

“We’ve been broadcasting for more than 40 years, thanks to our team of dedicated volunteers.

“It’s great that we could provide a kids Christmas show for the first time and also take part in The Big Broadcast to link the various hospital radio stations together to see in 2019.”

Mr Sipple also said the radio station is still on the lookout for volunteers to both simply visit wards and to present shows in a bid to make patients’ stay in hospital “a little brighter”.

The radio’s main show is the evening request show, which allows patients and visiting family and friends to pick a song to play across the building.

Mr Sipple added: “If you know of someone in hospital, let them know that Southend Hospital Radio can help to brighten their day and keep them informed of news from around the hospital.

“The station can be listened to on any internet-enabled device such as a smartphone, tablet or laptop.”

Visit www.getshr.uk for more information on the station.