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Hospital Radio Reading

Hospital Radio Reading is Royal Berkshire Hospital's radio station for patients and visitors.

Running since 1957, the station is staffed by volunteers and is on-air 24 hours a day with programmes including music, news bulletins, requests and more. 

How to listen to Hospital Radio Reading

In most wards, Hospital Radio Reading can be heard on the free radio service on bedside consoles. Ask your ward staff for headphones if required. You can also listen to the radio:

Listen Live
Requests and Dedications

Listen out for our live Hospital Radio Reading shows, on-air most evenings 8pm to 10pm (and repeated the following morning 8am to 10am) as well as on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Patients’ requests are also featured in 'Good Afternoon Royal Berks' on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons between 2pm to 4pm. 

Our volunteers aim to visit most wards twice each week, but all patients are welcome to phone in at any time on the free 24-hour request line. If you'd like us to play a music request – for yourself, another patient or a member of staff - just call *800 from the phone on the bedside console or 0118 322 8508. You can also email requests@hrreading.org.uk or message us via Facebook or X/Twitter (@hrreading) or use the “Request a Song” link on our website www.hrreading.org.uk.

In all cases the following information is helpful:

  • the patient's name and the ward or unit they are on.
  • the music track, or type of music, or artiste(s) you would like us to play.
  • the approximate time if you have a preference (we are usually live between 8pm to 10pm daily, plus 12pm to 2pm on Saturday, and 2pm to 4pm from Sunday to Thursday). 
More Information

Specialist programmes at other times include comedy, short stories, interviews and programmes of old-time, jazz, blues, rock, classical, soul, and music from stage and screen. You can also hear our very own commentary on all Reading FC home fixtures, which is how we started back in 1957 (for copyright reasons not available online), some some Reading City and other non-league games and other occasional outside broadcasts.