Designing and publishing a hospital radio magazine

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, fish suspended

I have been asked to help publish a magazine by a hospital radio station.

Anyone who has had any sort of stay in a hospital will tell you that hospital radio with it’s music, news and entertainment is a welcome diversion at a difficult time.

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital

One of the bigger hospitals in London with 665 beds and 2,200 staff is the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. When you walk in the main entrance from Fulham Road it appears more like a mall than a hospital.

Designed, in fact, by architects Sheppard Robson who are better known for their shopping centers, it also has a large number of art installations (including large suspended fish, above) and live music can often be heard in it’s atrium. It neither looks, smells nor feels like a hospital.

This is the hospital radio that I shall be doing the magazine for. Radio Chelsea and Westminster does not get any money from the government. It thrives entirely on volunteers and donations … and money we can get from the magazine.

The volunteers don’t only run the radio station, they can be found on the wards chatting to patients (especially those who don’t have visitors) and asking for requests to be played on the radio that evening. Former patient, Colin Bell, recalls:

I asked for “I can’t give you anything” by the Stylistics and listened to the show that evening with baited breath. They played it and got the dedication right. I could not stop crying, it meant so much to me.

Colin is now a volunteer.

Designing, selling advertising space and publishing a magazine

I am really looking forward to this project. Over the coming months I shall be writing, designing, and editing the magazine.

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, cafe interior

There are several factors why this magazine is attractive to advertisers and sponsors:

For a variety of reasons it pays to spend more on advertising and marketing in a recession.
This magazine’s 5,000 copies are distributed throughout the hospital and are left there for a considerable time – the readership maybe as high as 150,000 – whereas other magazines have a shelf-life of a month or less.
The Chelsea and Westminster Hospital sits right in the middle of one of the most affluent areas of London.

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital facts:
Every year there are 60,000 people admitted for treatment, 5,000 babies are born and more than 80,000 attend the Accident & Emergency department.

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital serves the local population living in Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster (that includes people like the Royal Family, the Prime Minister and Roman Abramovich!) Joking aside, if your business ever takes you to the West End of London, you may one day (God forbid) be grateful for the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.

If you, or anyone you know, wishes to contribute to the magazine in any way please contact me.

This article was posted on Thursday, April 9th, 2009 at 10:37 pm and is filed under Business, Design, Marketing.
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9 Responses to “Designing and publishing a hospital radio magazine”

Salvia Divinorum Extract, on April 12th, 2009 at 10:37 am, said:

I know very well about Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. It’s health care level stands on satisfactory level. Specially I want to buy advertisement space for your radio magazine.
Bushpig, on April 14th, 2009 at 7:00 am, said:

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital is very good place for treatment, espacially Skin problems
Rob Cubbon, on April 14th, 2009 at 10:23 am, said:

Hello Salvia Divinorum Extract, the hospital has a very good record of healthcare. I’m delighted you would like to advertise with us I think that your business would do very well in the magazine. I have sent you an email.

Hi Bushpig thank you for your comment! The hospital has a number of specialisms, I believe, that is one of them
Rose@Go Parts, on April 27th, 2009 at 7:11 pm, said:

I like the look of this hospital–and it’s very good record of healthcare. I like the story of Colin Bell. It’s really touching when somebody made you feel important. I am sure you will succeed.
Rob Cubbon, on April 29th, 2009 at 9:41 am, said:

Thank you so much for your positivity, Rose@Go Parts, I have just started to try to sell advertising space on this magazine and it’s proving difficult to get hold of the right people. Anyway, I shall persevere! Thank you, again.
Herbal Care, on May 17th, 2009 at 7:56 am, said:

Oh, good luck with this, it is always good to make some charity things.
Henry Gilbert, on August 29th, 2009 at 9:54 pm, said:

I’ve been to the Chelsea & Westminster Hospital today. A & R.

I am gobsmacked. About how incredibly good they are. I feel like sending them a bunch of flowers.

Truly unique wonderful folks. If there is any form or feedback that I can sign – I will. Because these guys deserve nothing but praise. Absolutely first class treatment.

Makes such a refreshing change from my previous experiences with other Hospitals and NHS Institutions.
Henry Gilbert, on August 29th, 2009 at 9:57 pm, said:

Sorry that was meant to be : A & E !!!

My mindset is still on music promotion:

A&R = Artist and repertoire
A&E = Accident and emergency
Rob Cubbon, on September 12th, 2009 at 1:55 pm, said:

I’ve been quite lucky with NHS institutions as I’ve always found the staff pretty helpful. But it’s interesting that you found the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital particularly good. I wonder if it’s anything to do with the fact that the hospital itself is bright and looks nice that makes those inside behave better. I’ve been to the Whittington A&E up in north London – not such a nice place, very cramped. Good to see you’re confusing those sharks of the music industry with accidents!

Graphic and Web Designer London UK