Radio for Sunderland, from Sunderland

Not, not Spark Sunderland for once. Radio Sunderland for Hospitals is actually Sunderland's oldest radio station, having started covering football matches from Roker Park in 1953. It's now marking the start of the national Hospital Broadcasting Week by moving to broadcast on the internet, as well as on the Hospedia units at Sunderland Royal Hospital and Monkwearmouth Hospital. The intention is to keep the web stream up for at least a year; hopefully more if they can find a sponser.

I know that the idea of hospital radios broadcasting on the internet can be a controversial topic - some people (including some inside the hospital radio movement) see it as a bit of aggrandisement and diluting the commitment to the core hospital audience. Me, I think it's an excellent idea - not least since one of the most frequently asked questions from relatives asking for requests for patients is "Can we hear it too?" From now on, the answer can be Yes!