Annual Conference

Future-proofing Hospital, Health & Wellbeing Broadcasting in an evolving NHS

King Alfred's Statue, Winchester

Saturday 13th April 2024, University of Winchester

Bookings close 23:59 on 29th March 2024

This year, we're taking conference to the ancient capital of England - Winchester.

Join us for THE conference for hospital, health and wellbeing radio practitioners, consisting of a carefully-curated suite of short talks (18 mins each, TEDtalk-style), demonstrations and panel discussions/Q&A sessions that are idea-focused and cover a range of subjects to foster learning, inspiration and wonder – and to provoke the conversations that matter - both on the day, and afterwards, within your station.

The presentations are split into three themed sessions, each focusing on a particular aspect of how to go about future-proofing your station in an evolving NHS.

And in the evening, join us to celebrate your achievements in the last year, at the National Hospital Radio Awards ceremony.

Conference

We are all aware that the NHS is changing. Hospital, health and wellbeing broadcasting needs to evolve to ensure that it remains relevant in this shifting environment, continuing to produce social gain to the local community.

This year's conference will provide you with the inspiration to look again at the content that you and your station are producing, and think about how you can adapt both it and the broadcast technology you use to ensure that your station continues to deliver positive impact, whether that is within a hospital setting, other health and social care settings, or on the airwaves as a health & wellbeing community radio station.

Provisional conference timetable

09:15am Foyer Registration opens, refreshments
10:00am Main Auditorium Welcome and introductions
10:15am Main Auditorium

Session 1: Evolving with a changing NHS

Spotlight:A series of 90-second presentations from members across the country, showcasing how they have adapted to changing circumstances, or highlighting a particular challenge they face.

Keynote speakers:

  • Steve Brine MP, Chair of the House of Commons Health & Social Care Select Committee
  • Julie Dawes, Chief Nurse of Hampshire Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

This session will set the scene for a lively debate after the coffee break about the future role of hospital, health, and wellbeing broadcasting in the modern NHS, and for the overall conference.

(Session continues after the refreshment break)

11:15am Trade Exhibition Room Trade Exhibition opens
11:15am Trade Exhibition Room Refreshments and Networking
11:40am Main Auditorium

Session 1: Evolving with a changing NHS (continued)

Lively debate with our keynote speakers, and representatives of HBA and member stations, fielding questions from delegates.

12:30pm Main Auditorium Annual General Meeting, Long Service Certificate presentations
1:00pm Food Hall Buffet lunch
2:00pm Main Auditorium

Session 2: Broadcasting beyond the bedside entertainment system

With more-and-more hospitals not replacing their bedside entertainment system, we look at alternative technologies and methods of reaching audiences both inside and outside the hospital:

  • Using low-power FM to broadcast to your hospital - Keith Jolley from Hospital Radio Plymouth
  • Serving waiting rooms and other public areas of the hospital, and other care settings, via a Raspberry Pi and a TV - Steve Hickman from Radio Hillingdon
  • Community broadcasting via Small-Scale DAB - Scott Rawlings from Hospital Radio Basingstoke

(Session continues after the refreshment break)

2:00pm Lecture Theatre

Session 3: Compelling content - how to create great radio

Getting the content of your service right is key. This session hears from last year's Station of the Year, looks at a variety of speech radio topics, and takes a look at how you can find out more about your audience, so you can target your content appropriately.

  • Creating award-winning radio content - David Elliott from BHBN
  • It's not all doom and gloom! - How to seek out positive, life-affirming stories from your local community - Mary Blaxland and Anna O'Brien from Winchester Radio
  • Bringing community events to your listener via Outside Broadcasts - Katie Child, Nigel Gray and Ian Wilson from Radio Redhill

(Session continues after the refreshment break)

3:05pm Trade Exhibition Room Refreshments and Networking
3:30pm Main Auditorium

Session 2: Broadcasting beyond the bedside entertainment system (continued)

  • Broadcasting to care homes - John O'Donnell from Ayr Hospital Radio
  • Podcasting and on-demand - Ben Tillett from Radio Frimley Park

Followed by a Q&A session, with presenters taking questions from delegates.

3:30pm Lecture Theatre

Session 3: Compelling content - how to create great radio (continued)

  • Health & wellbeing Community Radio - speaker from Winchester Radio
  • Knowing and targetting your audience - Nigel Dallard, Specialist Advisor, HBA

Followed by a Q&A session, with presenters taking questions from delegates.

4:50pm   Conference closes

NB: Please note that the above timetable is indicative only, and is subject to change at any time.

After the conference, those attending the awards dinner and ceremony have a number of options, including:

  • going to their accommodation to freshen-up/check-in;
  • remaining outside the conference/awards venue; on the University campus;
  • visiting a local hostelry for refreshments - the nearest is about a 10-15 minute walk up a steep hill.

 

National Hospital Radio Awards ceremony

Join us to find out who is picking-up the trophies in this year's National Hospital Radio Awards, hosted by Sean Dunderdale.

Unlike previous years, there is no strict dress code. Please dress smartly, but suits/evening dresses are entirely optional. Smart casual, including your station-branded clothing is completely acceptable.

Tickets to the awards ceremony are limited to 180. Priority will be given to those attending the conference too, so awards-only tickets will not go on sale until 16 March.

Provisional awards timetable

6:15pm Drinks reception
7:00pm Dinner
8:30pm Awards Ceremony
10:00pm Celebrations and Networking

 

Tickets

Like so many other things these days, our costs have been severely impacted by inflation. To keep the cost of attending as low as possible, so as to allow the maximum number of hospital broadacsters to participate, our conference and awards is a single-day, non-residential event. Delegates will need to arrange their own accommodation locally, if they require it. Winchester is a tourist city, and there is a huge range of accommodation available, in all price brackets. Cheaper options are also available outside the city.

Prices are set as low as possible, and a discount is available for those booking for both the conference and awards ceremony:

  • £110 for the whole day - conference and awards
  • £60 for conference only
  • £70 for awards only (bookings open 16 March)

Bookings close at 23:59 on 29th March.

Book Now

 

Useful Information

Accessibility

The University is fully accessible, although it is on steeply sloping grounds. Drop-offs can be made immediately outside the conference and awards ceremony venues for those in need of such.

Food allergies

Please advise at time of booking if you have any food allergies or you require a vegetarian, vegan or other special diet.

Travel

Rail

Winchester is served by:

  • South Western Railway services from Waterloo, via Basingstoke to Southampton/Poole/Bournemouth/Weymouth and from Waterloo, via Basingstoke to Portsmouth
  • Cross Country services from Manchester Piccadilly via Stoke, Birmingham and Reading to Bournemouth
  • Change at Reading (and possibly Basingstoke) for GWR services from the South West and South Wales

Note: there are planned rail engineering works in the Southampton area over the conference weekend - see the National Rail engineering page for more details

Air

Southampton Airport is 10 mins away by train (it has its own railway station - Southampton Airport Parkway) with flights from the Channel Islands, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Newcastle

From the city centre/railway station:

  • it's a 10/5-minute bus ride (services 4, 5, 61, 66 or South Park & Ride) up to the Royal Hampshire County Hospital, then a 5 - 7minute walk down a steep hill; or
  • if you need your daily exercise, it's a 25/15-minute walk up a steep hill.

Road

Winchester is on the M3. For those coming from the north, use the A34 and join the M3 at Jct 9. For those coming from the south-west, use the M4 or A303, then turn south on the A34.

There is limited on-site parking at the University, and preference will be given to those attending the awards ceremony. Please provide your car registration number (or at least the number of cars in your party) if you would like an on-site park-parking space. We will endeavour to ensure there is a space for you, but this cannot be guaranteed, as the parking is available to all attending/visiting the University. If you are staying overnight, and your accommodation has parking, please make use of it and arrive by public transport.

For those attending the conference only, the city's Park & Ride service offers a cheap and convenient service, costing just £3,50 to park the car and all occupants to use the bus (buses run from approx 7:00am to approx 6:30pm). The Royal Hampshire County Hospital (the nearest stop) is served by buses from both the East Car Parks (M3, Jct 10, northbound exist only) (both the St. Catherines and Barfield car parks) and the South Car Park (M3 Jct 11), although the latter is closest.

Accommodation

We have prepared a list of possible hotel/pub accommodation. Winchester is a tourist city, so there are many options, including B&B and camping in the area.

Visits

Winchester Radio is based in the Royal Hampshire County Hospital, next door to the University. They are offering to arrange studio tours either on the Friday evening or Sunday morning for anyone staying over in the area. They are due to be moving studios within the hospital shortly after the time of conference, so their already small studio maybe in a state of some disarray! Please contact them directly via email to express an interest in a visit - info <at> winchester <dot> radio. You can tune-in to Winchester Radio on 94.7FM and on DAB digital radio whilst in the local area.