No place for Southern Sound charity at new super-hospital
A hospital radio station is battling to stay on the air – after it was branded “outdated” by health chiefs.
Southern Sound volunteers have been broadcasting to patients at Glasgow’s Southern General for over 20 years.
However, the registered charity has no place in the soon to be opened £842 million super hospital which is due to open in the Southern’s place.
Its studios are to be demolished and will not be replaced – affecting 25 volunteers.
We are hugely appreciative of the service that Southern Sound has delivered over the years
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGCC) says the station isn’t needed because patients now listen to music on their own devices.
However, volunteers are not going quietly and are crowdfunding to pay for a new studio, contributing £100 of their own cash to keep the station on air.
They say they will need at least £30,000 to stay alive.
Charities could also be hit by the closure – as the likes of Macmillan Cancer receive free advertising through it.
A spokeswoman for NHSGGC said: “When the new South Glasgow Hospital opens later this year, every single ensuite room will have an individual patient entertainment system with dedicated access to Freeview channels and digital radio.
“The length of time a patient stays in hospital is reducing and most bring their own personal phones, iPads and iPods to listen to their own choices of music.
“Our view therefore is that the historical visit by a volunteer for personal requests is less viable given these changes and the array of TV and radio choices which will be offered by our new entertainment systems.
“Until now NHSGGC has provided Southern Sound Radio with free accommodation, heating, lighting, power and maintenance costs.
“However, in November our board agreed that in light of these factors it was not appropriate to spend further public monies on funding the relocation and continued running costs for Southern Sound off site.”
“We are hugely appreciative of the service that Southern Sound has delivered over the years and a special reception is planned to recognise this.”
A fundraising campaign has been set up to save Southern Sound via JustGiving.
