Conquest Hospital Radio is a self-funding registered charity and has been broadcasting to patients for over 40 years.
A dedicated team of volunteers present programmes, visit the wards to collect and play patient requests, raise funds, maintain the record library and provide all the backroom organisation that is essential to the smooth running of the station.
The station broadcasts from studios within the hospital and can be heard on Hospedia Channel 6, free of charge.
Conquest Hospital Radio started in the 1970’s with four enthusiasts recording programmes at home and broadcasting them using a tape player installed in a cupboard at The Royal East Sussex Hospital which was in Cambridge Road near the town centre. At about the same time a similar operation began at St Helen’s Hospital in Frederick Road off The Ridge near Ore.
In 1976 the two groups merged and established a studio at St Helen’s Hospital and The Hastings and Rother Hospital Broadcasting Service was born. Soon landlines were in use taking the station to Bexhill, Buchanan, Royal East Sussex and Eversfield Hospitals. By 1984 a suite of two studios, a music library and an office were in use at St Helen’s Hospital. The programmes were then made up by playing vinyl records and reel to reel tape recorders and now they use CD’s, mini discs and an automated twenty four hour computerised playout system.
