Stories and snippets of information taken from the staff newsletter and from behind the scenes.
A look back at 2011 at Radio Heatherwood and all the events of the year.
The reduction in services at the hospital continue to effect the services provided by the league of friends.
The winter edition of the nahbo magazine carried the article by station Manager Dave smith on the presentation of the 30 year long service award for station secretary PJ, held over from the previous year.
Taken From 2010:- The year started for the radio with the knowledge that the hospital as part of their turnaround plan would want the radio station to re-locate from it’s current premises. In light of receiving this information at the end of 2009 it was decided all recruitment and staff training would cease until further notice.
The year 2011 has not improved this situation for the radio service as recruitment for new volunteers is still suspended and the radio still un-certain about it's future.
The trust still trying to emerge from financial difficulties are still not able to comment on the long term future of the hospital or it's services.
The listener ship of the radio continues to be effected with ward closures and changes.
The all singing all dancing system installed at the bedhead's does not prove to be a winner for the radio service as more often or not, if you tour the wards the units have no headphones and patients do not know they can listen without charge.
Two more volunteers left this year with the departure of Vicky Udell to Australia walkabout and the move from area for Celsio D'Souza. This lowers the volunteers working on the radio to the lowest since it's inception.
2011 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
The station stopped it's Tuesday evening live sessions in mid year and this now leaves only an hour on a Saturday morning and one hour on a Monday evening.
The hospital volunteers magazine published during the year featured a picture of Celsio and details on the work of the league.
Jenny Gallagher completed three years service in July and was awarded a certificate.
The radio history published on the web was completed this year along with the publishing of video's on new facebook pages dedicated to the radio service and league of friends.
Long term supporter of the radio Margaret White a former patient once again donates £5 to the radio and sends her usual playlist requests for patients.
The web shop set up to raise funds for the radio, changed management this year and a new web site is produced with links from the the league and radio web sites. The service is still to provide any real income for the radio.
As the year progressed Radio Heatherwood's lease came up for renewal and this at the end of the year is still being ratified. A five year term with a short break clause by either parties, does nothing to install confidence in our future.
As the year draws to a close , news that ward 10 is to re-open provides us with some comfort, however bedhead services in the ward were removed, when the ward closed in 2009 and are not going to be re-instated. Despite offering a solution to the hospital, this has been ignored and now the patients in this ward have no access to the hospital radio service or any entertainment services
Ward 10 has been renamed ward 4 orthopaedics and the old ward 4 is currently empty. This is due to take patients from Wexham but at the time of writing this is still to happen.
Another year draws to a close and Radio Heatherwood still very much in the dark about it's future.
Staff Joining This Year 0 Staff Leaving 2
Current Staff 6
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Just some extra's we found:-
Long Service Award
NAHBO magazine article from the winter 2010/2011 edition.
Story compiled by station manager Dave Smith
Falling Stats
These latest images from 2011 show the logging of requests and headphones issued.
The introduction of the bedhead patient power system in 2004 didn't stop the issuing of headphones by the radio and league,whereas we were issuing them for our loan radio service we were now issuing them to users of the bedheads.
The requests collected by the radio staff as can be seen was dependant on the live broadcast nights and available wards. As these show in 2011 requests had dropped off along with live shows as wards closed and the staff decline continued.
We have to remember here it was in 2009 the trust first issued their intentions for the re-development, and by the way your studio is in the way!
As if confirmation was needed, as more and more wards are closed and the radio station loses staff, the numbers reflect the downward trend.
These figures were originally posted on the staff notice board and then later on the internet bulletin board.
2011 That Was The Year That Was!
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