A popular radio station based at Perth Royal Infirmary has launched a new service for some of the region’s care homes.
Hospital Radio Perth has announced request shows aimed at 12 Balhousie Group Care Homes across Perth and Kinross.
From Pitlochry and Rumbling Bridge down to the Fair City, residents will be able to select their favourite music and hear it broadcast on the award-winning station especially for them.
The programmes will be presented by experienced broadcaster Peter Hay, who recently went along to Balhousie North Inch care home in Perth to launch the service.
Peter told the residents how this development was something the station had wanted to do for some time, but recent technical developments had, at last, made it possible.
“Music is a fabulous way of sparking memories,” Peter explained to the Perthshire Advertiser.
“And if previous care home shows are anything to go by, it will encourage residents to sing along, to dance or to participate in their exercises.”
Diane Cain, the home manager at Balhousie North Inch, welcomed the new service provided by Hospital Radio Perth.
She said: “Meaningful, stimulating and individualised activities are a crucial part of our care at Balhousie, as are community partnerships, and you don’t get any better than your own local radio show.”
Mima Hird, Balhousie North Inch activities co-ordinator, added: “We are all really looking forward to it. It will be a lot of fun.”
Hospital Radio Perth began life in the mid 80s when a group of enthusiasts got together in the hope of launching a service at Perth Royal Infirmary.
After several long months of fundraising, the service first went on air on February 20, 1989, with the words: “Good evening PRI, you’re tuned to Hospital Radio Perth”.
Since then the station has gone from two programmes per week to broadcasting 24 hours a day - every day.
They have moved to purpose designed studios in the grounds of Perth Royal Infirmary.
And they have also won numerous awards for the service.
But they note one thing stays the same: “We remain just as patient-focused now as we did in those early days.”
Hospital Radio Perth has returned to full live broadcasting following the pandemic and are now looking for volunteers to be trained as presenters for evening or daytime shows.
They can be contacted via their website at hrperth.co.uk where listeners can also find links to submit requests and listen to the programmes.
