Vote for Stafford hospital radio to win £20,000

Hospital Radio Stafford broadcasts to County Hospital Stafford, Cannock Chase Hospital, the Royal Stoke University Hospital and Katharine House Hospice providing entertainment to around 1,460 patients and visitors.

Presenters play requests from patients and chat between records, providing a range of programmes for all tastes 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, .

In June, station bosses heard that they had been shortlisted as one of five charities for the M6Toll’s ‘Drive for Charity’ partner scheme, with the winner receiving a donation of £20,000 – an amount that would cover the costs of refurbishing their studio.

For 30 years, its broadcasting equipment and studio have remained untouched, and to secure the future of the station, they say they need to secure enough votes to win the top prize money.

The station promotes itself as 'the voice of a friend', placing importance on maintaining a good rapport with patients.

It began broadcasting in 1972 from a tiny studio which had been fitted into the only space the health authority at the time could spare – underneath the stage at St. George’s Hospital in Stafford, in the presence of the mayor.

Presenters say that regular patients sometimes phone in from home after discharge to say how much they appreciated the company of a friendly voice on the radio. Nursing staff and doctors have also said how music can be therapeutic to a patient’s recovery.

People have until tomorrow to register their vote by visiting m6toll.co.uk/about-us/drive-for-charity/drive-for-charity-partner/

The winner and runner-up will be announced on August 15.

By Erin Lewis