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Draft:Bedrock Radio

  • Comment: This draft seems to have been AI-generated (or such tools have been employed at least), and features copypasted text from sources with copyright. You should add the information in your own words. NeoGaze (talk) 14:51, 4 January 2026 (UTC)


Bedrock Radio
Broadcast area
North East London and South West Essex
Programming
LanguageEnglish
FormatCommunity, health & hospital radio
Ownership
OwnerBedrock Radio
History
First air date
1 December 2002 (as Bedrock AM); 31 December 2025 (on DAB+)
Links
WebcastListen live
Websitebedrockradio.org.uk

Bedrock Radio is a local radio station, based at Queen's Hospital, Romford (Greater London).

It broadcasts on DAB+ Digital Radio and online publicly, It also provides Hospital Radio services to; Queen's, King George, Goodmayes and Whipps Cross Hospitals

The station holds a community radio C-DSP licence from Ofcom to broadcast on DAB+, providing a local radio service on the North East London & South West Essex Digital Multiplex, which launched on 31st December 2025.

Bedrock Radio has an AC format playlist, the station provides health and wellbeing themed programming alongside music, news, and community content. It broadcasts 24 hours a day, from studios at Queen's Hospital, Romford, the station is a registered charity[1] (Registration number; 1180476) and is entirely by volunteer operated.

History

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Bedrock Radio was formed from a merger of previous hospital radio services.

Founding Stations:

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  • Warley / Harold Wood Radio (1964–2002): Warley Radio, launched on 14 February 1964 by an amateur film group.[2] Initially pre-recording programmes on cassette tapes that where played to patients. The station secure a permeant base at Harold Wood Hospital, connecting to the patient radio system.[2]
  • Radio Rush Green / Radio 174 (1969–1995): 7 April 1969, Radio Rush Green was founded and was based in the Porters lodge at Rush Green Hospital, Dagenham. Permission was given by the hospital directors to expand the service into the neighbouring Oldchurch Hospital in Romford, resulting in Radio Rush Green relaunching on 20th October1985 as Hospital Radio 174, which served both hospitals sites. The radio station gained its unusual name, being named after the 174 bus route that served both hospitals grounds.[2] To mark the launch a promotional bus was provided by North Street Bus Garage, which ran between the two hosptials during the launch weekend. In 1993, Hospital Radio 174 relocated into new studios based in the Nurses' Home on the grounds of Oldchurch Hospital, in preparation of the closure of Rush Green Hospital in 1995.
  • Oldchurch Radio (1996–2002): When Rush Green Hospital closed in 1995, the station paused broadcasting to install LPAM transmitter to cover the grounds of Oldchurch Hospital. The station relaunched in re-launched in 1996 as Oldchurch Radio, Romford Broadcasting on 846kHz (AM)[2]

Formation of Bedrock.

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In 2000, the Barking Havering and Redbridge, University Hospital Trust, requested Oldchurch Radio and Harold Wood Radio to merge, ahead of the opening of Queen's Hospital in 2006. Due to limited space for one hospital radio service.[2]

The resulting merger formed Bedrock. Becoming a newly formed registered charity in 2002.[3] The station launched at the former Oldchurch Radio studios, retaining use of the 846AM transmitter at Oldchurch Hospital, with a direct link to patients bedside radio Harold Wood Hospital. The first programs broadcast as 'Bedrock AM' December 1, 2002.

In 2006, Bedrock AM ceased broadcasting on 846AM, the station moved into new a studio suite based at the new Queen's Hospital[2], after delays in setting up the patient bedside entertainment system, the station resumed broadcasting 2009, dropping the AM suffix, now broadcasting direct to patients via the internal beside entertainment system only.

The Cornwall Suite.

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On 22 January 2009 The Duchess Of Cornwall, Queen Camilla[4] officially re-launched Bedrock Radio, in a naming ceremony that inaugurated the studio as The Cornwall Suite, with the station resuming full 24-hour broadcasting by late 2009.[2][5]

Hospital Radio Mergers.

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  • 2017 - Goodmayes Hospital Radio: The Goodmayes Hospital Radio Association (GHR) began in 1975. Which later in 2004 station adopted the on-air name of "The Jumbo Sound" and served both Goodmayes and King George Hospitals. In 2015 the stations' celebrated it's 40th anniversary. However by November 2015, the station was forced off-air due to a flood caused by a radiator failure[6]. By March 2016, Goodmayes Hospital Radio volunteers agreed to merge with Bedrock. Extending Bedrock Radio's operations into Goodmayes Hospital and the wider North East London NHS Foundation Trust.[7][8] The studio at Goodmayes was closed in 2020, as the remaining sections of the old Goodmayes Hospital Building where closed and condemned, with all broadcasting coming from The Cornwall Suite Studio, at Queen's Hospital, Romford.[7]
  • 2023 - Whipps Cross Hospital Radio (WXHR): The station began in 1969 serving the patients of Whipps Cross Hospital, by 1982 the station began broadcasting live commentary from Leyton Orient Football Club on Saturday Afternoons exclusively to patients. In 2014 the patient Hospedia bedside entertainment system at Whipps Cross Hospital as the third most listened to channel with in, recording a weekly audience of 5,648 listening hours[9]. In 2019 WXHR celebrated it's 50 year anniversary[10] with a celebratory lunch for volunteers past and present. During 2021 Volunteers of WHXR voted to wind down the station, due to the removal of the Hospedia entertainment system from the wards, and unclear communication on the future of the station being re-homed in the rebuilding plans of the new Whipps Cross Hospital. The last live programme of WHXR was broadcast on Sunday, 25th September 2022, with the station remaining in automation, until December 2022 when output changed to Bedrock Radio[11]

Broadcasting

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Studios

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Bedrock Radio broadcasts from 'The Cornwall Suite' based at Queen's Hospital, Romford.

The three-room Suite is formed of an on-air studio, office with radio production facilities and a technical room.

DAB+ Digital Radio

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On 31 December 2025, Bedrock Radio joined the North East London, South West Essex Multiplex operated by East London and Essex Digital.[12] Transmitter are located at Ilford, Romford and Brentwood. Launching on digital radio platform dramatically improves Bedrock Radio's reach and accessibility to the community. The Digital Radio signal is estimated to cover 2.3 Million people locally (Based on 2021 census data)[13]

Following, The closure of Time 107.5 in August 2025, Bedrock Radio became the only radio station based in Romford[2] who still broadcast to the local area.

Bedrock Radio target a similar coverage area to the former Time FM, with a focus on Havering, Redbridge, Barking & Dagenham, Thurrock and Brentwood.

The station has aspirations to expand to cover more of South Essex (depending on funding)

Online / App

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In 2014, on Bedrock Radio began streaming online, as hospitals began installing a free Hospital wide Patient WiFi system, which later became 'NHS Wi-Fi' managed by WiFi Spark[14] introduced by NHS Digital to all sites 2018[15]. With Bedrock Radio listed as the primary 'Hospital Radio' service across both BHRUT & NELFT sites.

This station streams can be found via its website, dedicated Bedrock Radio app, and smart speakers, the station is listed on a number of platforms, including TuneIn and UKRadioPlayer.

Hospital Radio

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Bedrock Radio provide Hospital Radio services to:

  • Queen's Hospital: Ward Radios, NHS WiFi, DAB+ and Speaker System in the food court.
  • King George Hospital: NHS WiFi and DAB+.
  • Goodmayes Hospital: Ward Speakers, NHS WiFi and DAB+.
  • Whipps Cross: Hospital Speaker System, NHS WiFi and DAB+.

Programming

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Bedrock Radio broadcasts a mixture of live and pre-recorded programme 24 hours a day, a live On Air Schedule is published online and in-app.

The station uses the strapline "Your Healthy Music Mix" Providing a playlist predominately covering the 70s to present day, with specialist programmes in evenings and weekends to cover a range of themes including, Rock, Soul, 80s, 90s and more.

Cornerstone community content, broadcast on Bedrock Radio:

  • Community news and events updates during the daytime covering East London and South Essex.
  • Hourly Health and Hospital information segments.
  • Opportunities for Community interaction and discussion, such as song requests and the ability for listeners to send voice messages (voice notes) to the studio through the Bedrock Radio App.

Funding

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Bedrock Radio raises money in the community through charitable activities such as; public donations, grants and fundraising events including outside broadcasts (Bedrock Roadshows[16]) and using third party services including a local lottery and a shopping referral schemes.

Since launching on DAB+, the station now offers local advertising and sponsorship opportunities to help fund it's future on Digital Radio.

See also

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== References ==

  1. ↑ "BEDROCK RADIO - Charity 1180476". prd-ds-register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk. Retrieved 2026-01-02.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Our History". Bedrock Radio. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  3. ↑ "BEDROCK - Charity 1094330". prd-ds-register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk. Retrieved 2026-01-08.
  4. ↑ "Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall fills out a song request at The Queen's..." Getty Images (in Spanish). 2009-01-22. Retrieved 2026-01-02.
  5. ↑ "Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall in the studio at The Queen's Hospital on..." Getty Images. 2009-01-22. Retrieved 2026-03-03.
  6. ↑ "Hospital radio station faces £30k bill after radiator explodes". East London and West Essex Guardian Series. 2015-11-13. Retrieved 2026-01-02.
  7. 1 2 "Hospital radio station relaunches after merge with Romford service". Romford Recorder. 2016-11-25. Retrieved 2026-01-02.
  8. ↑ Trust, NELFT NHS Foundation. "Bedrock Hospital Radio". NELFT NHS Foundation Trust. Retrieved 2026-01-08.
  9. ↑ "Hospital radio among most popular in UK". East London and West Essex Guardian Series. 2014-05-09. Retrieved 2026-01-02.
  10. ↑ Ferris, Mick (2019-08-26). "Whipps Cross Hospital Radio marks 50 years". Yellow Advertiser. Retrieved 2026-03-03.
  11. ↑ Watson, Mathew (2022-11-30). "Hear Bedrock Radio in more Hospitals in East London". Bedrock Radio. Retrieved 2026-01-02.
  12. ↑ "East London and Essex Digital". eled.uk. Retrieved 2026-01-02.
  13. ↑ "East London and Essex Digital". eled.uk. Retrieved 2026-03-03.
  14. ↑ "Improving Patient Experience and Sustainability with SPARK® TSL". www.sparktsl.com. Retrieved 2026-01-03.
  15. ↑ "NHS WiFi: Connecting patients to digital services". NHS England Digital. Retrieved 2026-01-03.
  16. ↑ "Bedrock Roadshow". Bedrock Radio. Retrieved 2026-01-02.
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