The 1970s 

Radio Boscombe soon extended its 30-minute programme to one hour a week, due to a large response from the patients. The programme was taped onto cassettes and, when the tape was completed, it was plugged into the hospital radio system and played back.

The Poole League of Friends approached Radio Boscombe with a view to establishing a service at Poole Hospital, and they commenced broadcasting in 1972 as Radio Poole, based in a store room basement, surrounded by old fridges!

The success of Radio Poole led to negotiations with Radio Boscombe about joining forces and, in 1973, the Bournemouth and East Dorset Hospital Broadcasting Association (BEDHBA) was formed. Both stations transmitted individually at their respective site.

In January 1976, BEDHBA began broadcasting from an attic room at Westbourne Eye Hospital to Poole General, Royal Victoria Boscombe, Christchurch, Royal National and Poole Maternity and later Wimborne and Westbourne itself. 1976 also saw the first mention of Radio Bedside.