To celebrate the 75th birthday of the NHS, radio presenter Ken Bruce made a special appearance at Stoke Mandeville.

The Greatest Hits Radio presenter Ken Bruce MBE has returned to his hospital radio roots with an hour long special broadcast looking at the world of hospital radio.

With more than 150 hospital radio stations powered by 2,500 volunteers across the country, hospital radio is vital for the NHS staff and patients’ wellbeing and mood.

Ken Bruce said: "On what is a very special day for the NHS it feels fitting that Greatest Hits Radio should be looking at how important hospital radio has been to both patients and staff over the past decades.

“I know for me it was an opportunity to do something I loved but give back to people at the same time. It allowed me to make a lot of mistakes – that I continued to make in my professional career! – but it gave me the confidence to get out of them.

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“It has nurtured incredible broadcasting talent, been a lifeline for patients and an escape for staff with hugely demanding jobs.

"We're thrilled that Greatest Hits Radio can highlight this incredible institution that has meant so much to those who have ever had to spend time in or worked in one of our NHS hospitals.”

As a patron of Stoke Mandeville Hospital Radio Ken chose Studio One at the hospital to record this emotional documentary in which we’ll hear how his incredible 45 years in broadcasting began at Glasgow’s Hospital Broadcasting Service - the very first time he ever stepped foot in a radio studio.

During the hour-long show, he will be joined by Greatest Hits Radio colleague Simon Mayo, award-winning hospital radio presenter Virginia Irvine-Fortesque, while hospital radio presenter Paul Stanley chats to Jo Russell.

Other quests include Martin Kinch who has volunteered at Stoke Mandeville Hospital Radio since January 1979 and remembers playing records on vinyl and how patients would listen to the radio on plastic tubes that came out of the wall.

He also spoke to Anna Cook, a cancer nurse and a recent winner of Rising Star Award for the NHS, about the impact hospital radio has on patients, in particular those in for a long stay.

His final guest is Peter Dickson, the voice of The X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent and a fellow supporter of Stoke Mandeville’s hospital radio station.

'Back to the Start' will be on Greatest Hits Radio at 9pm on Wednesday July 5.