Grampian Hospital Radio

Grampian Hospital Radio broadcasts a dedicated radio service to the patients in Aberdeen’s hospitals.

We are a registered charity (SC002508), run completely by volunteers. We are also a member of the Hospital Broadcasting Association.

Unlike local commercial and national radio stations, we provide a service of a more personal nature, with more interaction from the patients and staff at the hospitals.

Grampian Hospital Radio currently broadcasts to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen Maternity Hospital and Roxburghe House, from our studios located at Ashgrove House.

Grampian Hospital Radio broadcasts a range of specialist shows, including pop music, classical, Scottish, Irish and country music, catering for all the musical tastes and genres that our listeners like to hear.

A request show is also broadcast every night on Grampian Hospital Radio.

We also run a separate radio station, Radio Rainbow, which broadcasts to the patients and staff of the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital. Radio Rainbow broadcasts from its studio on the lower ground floor of the children’s hospital.

At Radio Rainbow, patients and staff are encouraged to visit our studio and phone in with requests.

Patients in the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital are aged 14 years and under. Radio Rainbow broadcasts a range of pop music, children’s songs and stories.

You can find out further information about Radio Rainbow on our Radio Rainbow page.

At both stations, our members visit the wards on a regular basis, to speak to the patients and find out what music they would like to hear.

It is important that we play the music that patients like to hear, and between both stations, we have a collection of over 70,000 records, covering every possible musical interest.

Both Grampian Hospital Radio and Radio Rainbow have regularly won awards at the National Hospital Radio Awards.

We are run by a committee of 13 members, who are elected every year at our annual general meeting.

We have over 50 members, who are involved with all aspects of the organisation, including presenting, request collecting, fundraising and technical.

We always welcome new members who are interested in joining us and helping us to continue our service. Anyone who is aged 16 years or over can apply for membership, and members initially join for a three-month probationary period.

We receive no regular money from the hospital authorities, therefore fundraising and donations are vital for the continued running of the organisation.

Grampian Hospital Radio carries out a range of fundraising activities throughout the year, and we always welcome new ideas for fundraising.

It’s not always nice being in hospital, and patients can often feel lonely. We aim to help provide patients with a distraction from their illness, hopefully making their stay in hospital a little bit easier, and providing a "friend at the bedside".