After months of uncertainty, patients at Goodmayes Hospital will have their own radio station broadcasting from its grounds in Barley Lane.

The previous station Jumbo Sound suffered from setback after setback, including a studio flooding, forcing it to dissolve earlier this year.

Queen’s Hospital radio station, Bedrock, took over and has been transmitting recorded programmes to the site.

But engineer Lee Howe said live shows would be starting again at Goodmayes soon, and would be focused on patients.

“The walls have been repainted, we have laid new carpet, we are just waiting for the studio furniture,” he said.

“Goodmayes Hospital has been isolated for a long time and we can actually serve them better by making programmes directly for them.”

Instead of listening to pre-recorded shows made in Romford for Romford hospital users, patients will now have interactive tailor-made content providing entertainment and enabling patients to request songs.

“The patients at Goodmayes are very different to Queen’s and are out and about in communal areas rather than in their beds,” said Lee.

“Having a studio on site means we will be able to engage with them and we are working with Nelft (North East London Foundation Trust) to make the service better for the time that they are there.”

Former Jumbo Sound presenter Martin Levin said the new station will need a big injection of volunteers to keep going, and while some local stations are active, many are “falling by the wayside”.

“We have to look at the future of hospital radio. At Whipps Cross they have a waiting list to become a presenter and we need to look at how we are going to attract more volunteers – is there a magic solution and what is the formula?

“All the people from the business are either dying or being shunted off and the business is becoming a juke box radio, when it should be entertaining and fun.”

If you are interested in volunteering, visit bedrockradio.org.uk to find out more.