A SOUTHAMPTON hospital radio presenter is urging residents to make song requests for patients amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Abby Oakley, a Southampton General Hospital radio presenter, is one of a number of hosts who run the radio show for patients and staff 24 hours a day.

However, due to the coronavirus, they are un able to do live shows, which take place every day.

Abby said they have managed to convince the hospital to do one show every week from the comfort of their own home.

This will take place every Wednesday.

Now, Abby is appealing to Daily Echo readers to request songs by 6pm every Tuesday, especially those who know family members in the hospital or key workers.

The 35-year-old from Southampton said: "We want to send a message to patients and key workers and want readers to request music for family members and key workers.

"We are all very passionate about our role in the wellbeing of patients and feel at this time it’s evermore needed even just a little gesture."

She added: "We have had volunteers here for years and years, and we just want to make a difference.

"That is why we do it, it could be the only contact they get all day.

Abby works for mental health charity MIND and has been helping out at the radio for three years.

She said the radio show will be her and her two colleagues, Jenny and Nick, who will be chatting via zoom and playing music in between.

Patients can find the radio station on their hospedia set on channel one.

If you would like to request a song for the hospital radio, do so before 6pm on Tuesdays - it could then be played on the show between 8.30pm and 9.30pm on Wednesdays.

To request, visit https://www.sohba.org/