Hospital radio is a complete waste of time. Most stations are glorified knocking shops, run by ineffectual people who could not manage their way out of a paper bag.
Perhaps at this point I should say not all, but the effort required to make the station a success is demanded by all, and in my experience, the ego trip gets in the way of providing the entertainment, followed quickly by a don't care attitude. Bulldozing is too good for the places.
Technology has moved on a pace, and personal stereos are the norm now, as well as mobile phones (where allowed or there is coverage), so capturing this audience requires dedication, commitment, and an understanding of the media. Sadly, this is very rare, and lacking in my experience. The result is a lot of people wasting effort and time, the audience cannot be bothered, and ask for record request or appear to join in, simply to get rid of the nuisance that is the ward visitor, leaning over chewing gum.
The problems start from the top down. Firstly the senior members just do not get involved on the wards, this is beneath them. Where a bi-weekly visit is in reality a minimum, they don't see the wards more than once a year. However this does not appear to affect their alleged judgement at putting together what this imaginary audience would like to hear. The fact is, the audience are not listening. Management generally leads a lot to be desired. Senior members lying to other members about what they have or have not done, and quite often working from a hidden agenda.
One factor affecting all is minimum standard of broadcasting etiquette. This is from a technical operational point of view through to determining what is and is not good wordsmanship. The result is programming that is as laughable as it is dull. Training is slapdash, does not cover the basics such as sound or music balance. There is no quality control. Programming is not reviewed independently, broadcasters are not encouraged to record their own programmes, or even have then independently assessed and critiqued. The result is unchecked programming.
While it may be thought this does no damage, in the listeners ear it takes just one thing to literally turn someone off, no matter if perhaps one broadcaster alone rises above the pathetic unchecked standards. Wasted efforts.
It is true to say that those who stay around for some time, usually do out of personal habit, and quite often personal failings or abnormal tendencies. These are the never-could-be's, quite often with something very odd in their personal background. No police checks are ever made for membership, and undesirables find it easy to infiltrate the organization. What genuine staff there could have been have their spirit battered and bruised by the misguided, bringing their personal problems to bear in their self important world. Child molesters pass through their doors just as easily as drug addicts, and both entities have been present where I was once associated.
If you are unfortunate to find yourself in hospital, then do remember the personal stereo with your own choice of music. Superior sound quality, and a lack of inane chatter from egotistical misfits.
You may not agree with my views, but I have a right to an opinion, and this is it. May the bulldozer roll on...
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