A hospital radio station has started an appeal to raise thousands of pounds to bring it into the 21st century.

Radio Airedale has been serving the patients and staff at Airedale Hospital, Steeton, for the past 30 years since the hospital was built. But its equipment is getting outdated and in a bad state of repair.

Now radio bosses have launched a £20,000 appeal to buy a small transmitter and also need extra cash to buy new recording equipment.

Newly-appointed Radio Airedale section leader Paul Scott explained the way patients listen to the service needed a radical re-think.

"At the moment patients listen via bedside headsets connected to box, which is linked to a wires which run right through all the wards," he said.

"But the headsets themselves are prone to breaking and the wiring itself has oxidised in the concrete walls.

"What we want to do is buy a medium wave transmitter with a half-a-mile radius which will allow hospital patients and staff to pick us up wherever they are in the hospital."

Radio Airedale is staffed by a dedicated band of volunteers who present programmes and collect requests from the wards. All the money it receives has to come from fundraising, as the organisation is a registered charity.

"Some people think that the NHS pays for everything, but that's not the case," said Mr Scott.

"Some of our equipment needs updating as it is always breaking down, and we need to have new specialist equipment if we get this transmitter, because we have to run a service 24 hours a day."

Mr Scott, 30, became involved with the station following a road accident which meant a lengthy stay in hospital and frequent visits to a specialist.

"When I was in hospital it was my link with the outside world," he said.

"What I want to do is update the station and bring it into the 21st century."

He is appealing to businesses to sponsor programmes on the station to help bring in revenue to finance its ambitious new venture. The plan also includes a new logo which children are being asked to design.

"The logo is a pair of headphones and it's not at all inviting," he added.

"It's somewhat archaic and what we need is a logo which emphasises the friendliness of the station.

"The logo will also help publicise the station and inform people that we run a service which is there for the community and there for them."

The prize for the winning designer is the chance to learn how to be a presenter. Anyone who would like to help with sponsorship of Radio Airedale should contact Mr Scott on (01535) 652511 ext 4604, or e-mail at radioairedale@AOL.com

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