Little Folks Ward Anniversary Appeal, February 1910
The anniversary being celebrated on 17 February at the Queen's Hospital was that of the founding of the 'Little Folks' ward and Convalescent Home. The out-patients hall, which was prettily decked with flags for the occasion, was crowded with friends for the brief meeting, which was presided over by Sir Walter Johnson. The story of how £5,500 had been collected by the readers of 'Little Folks' was admirably told by Miss Bella Sidney Woolf, who is responsible for the whole of the work in connection with the raising of this large sum. Nine years ago she began the collecting of £2,000 from the small readers of Little Folks for the founding of a new ward in the North-Eastern Hospital for Children (now known as the Queen's Hospital for Children). Gradually her appeals were responded to, the money being raised in three years.
After the building of the new wing, the 'Little Folks' Ward, instead of containing only six cots, had thirteen cots, and the consequence was that £1,000 extra was needed. This, too, was raised, and then came the idea that convalescent home should be started, so that the excellent work of the hospital should not be undone (as alas! often happens) by the sickly little ones being sent to miserable homes before they are throughly strong. Last year a suitable house was found at Cooden, near Bexhill, and the house and grounds of eight acres were purchased. When the alterations are complete it will be an ideal home, but the little folks who have worked so nobly for it are determined not to go into debt, so that the house will not be opened till at least £1,000 is in hand.
The work carried on at the Queen's Hospital is a wonderful one. Situated at one end of the metropolis, in a district that teems with poor people, it is but little known save to those to whom it is a very real blessing. Not only every bed and cot is filled, but baskets are to be seen in each ward, accommodating babies whose lives hang on the care and attention which they can receive in a hospital. The out-patients' hall is crowded with anxious, helpless mothers and sad-eyed little ones, who have to bear illness under the worst possible conditions. Tat is one side of the shield. The other side, if a balance is to be arrived at, must be filled with subscriptions, donations and legacies. Unhappily, whilst the one is crowded beyond all measure there are gaping spaces in the other, wide blanks which spell misery to many a suffering child, permanent weakness throughout life, or even death to those who must have skilled attention, good food, and cosy beds if they are to grow up into healthy young men and women.
The hospital is wisely managed: the medical staff, the matron, her sisters and nurses have their hearts in this great work of saving the children, but unless funds are forthcoming some of the beds will have to be closed. Will kindly friends not prevent this calamity happening by sending small or large donations or becoming regular subscribers? The little folk have done gallantly, and when their home is started it will relieve the hospital greatly, as many patients have now to be kept in the wards because they cannot be sent to their wretched homes until they are fairly strong. It is to be hoped that kind-hearted adults will imitate the little people, and will aid in an institution which is struggling to do a magnificent and national work under most disheartening circumstances.