Hospital Broadcasting Association
The Hospital Broadcasting Association supports the 160 independent hospital broadcasting organisations serving hospitals, hospices and nursing homes in the UK. The vast majority of these organisations provide hospital radio services through a variety of broadcast medium as well as a few hospital television services.
HBA's patron is the former Head of Presentation at BBC Radio 2, Alan Dedicoat, who before joining the BBC started his radio life in the hospital radio "trade".
Function
Advice and guidance
HBA provides advice and guidance to the management of the stations on all aspects of running a hospital broadcasting organisation. This is available via its website, its members' magazine, at national conferences, regional events and in response to specific enquiries. This expertise is vital to the stations, as many of a station's members will not have had previous experience in either broadcasting, running or managing an organisation.The HBA also provides regular training events for those involved with the associations member stations; attracting guest speakers who have a wealth of professional experience in radio broadcasting and interview techniques, radio technology or the finer points of computer based broadcasting software. In addition HBA offers training and support on numerous administration elements of managing a charity.
National representation
HBA represents hospital broadcasting at a national level, engaging with appropriate national organisations such as:- the NHS
- the Dept of Health
- Ofcom
- the copyright collecting societies PPL, PRS and MCPS
- the charity regulators Charity Commission and OSCR
- the government's Office of the Third Sector
National Hospital Radio Awards
The HBA stages the National Hospital Radio Awards annually to encourage volunteers to produce better programmes, recognising volunteers within the HBA and its member stations that deserve recognition for going the extra mile in their work. The awards are presented at the HBA Annual National Conference held in the Spring of each year. for association members and the general public to see in full.2022
National Hospital Radio Awards 2022.| Station of the Year | - |
| Gold: Radio Ysbyty GwyneddSilver: Radio TynesideBronze: Radio Brockley | - |
| Best Male Presenter | Best Female Presenter |
| Gold: Connor MorgansSilver: Jake McElvogueBronze: Neil Ogden | Gold: Jo HobbisSilver: Adelle DaviesBronze: Vicky Pinder |
| Best Speech Package | Best Special Event |
| Gold: Radio BrockleySilver: Bath RadioBronze: Radio Tyneside | Gold: The Hospital Broadcasting ServiceSilver: Winchester RadioBronze: Radio Glamorgan |
| Best Newcomer | Best Specialist Music Programme |
| Gold: Hannah GilchristSilver: Tiz HarrisBronze: Claire Cummins | Gold: HWD Hospital RadioSilver: Hospital Radio PlymouthBronze: The Hospital Broadcasting Service |
| Best Programme with Multiple Presenters | Best Station Promotion |
| Gold: The Heff & Beth Show - Hospital Radio MedwaySilver: Steve & Jen Unplanned -Arrowe SoundBronze: Daniel & Mark's LGBT Pride Hours - Harrogate Hospital Radio | Gold: Radio GlamorganSilver: Southend Hospital RadioBronze: Harrogate Hospital Radio |
| Recognising Innovation Across Hospital Radio | The John Whitney Outstanding Contribution Award |
| Gold: Radio Hillingdon | Gold: Paul Blitz |