Appeal for funds, June 1924

THE QUEEN'S HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN, HACKNEY ROAD

IT is painful to think that this institution, which ministers to a huge population, is in debt in respect to maintenance to the extent of over £l0,000, and unless someone comes to the rescue there will be a serious curtailment of its benefits. It started as the North Eastern Hospital for Children in 1867; but in 1908, by the gracious permission of Queen Alexandra, it was renamed, and has been doing work ever since under Royal Patronage and a very notable committee. Its work is certainly no sinecure.

In 1923, boys and girls from their birth to the age of fourteen were treated in large numbers—viz, as in-patients as many as 1,786 ; as out-patients, 37,901; while the attendances amounted to 129,649. About 200 different diseases and injuries were met with amongst these children.

There are 170 beds available, including 36 at the Little Folks’ Home. The average cost of each in-patient is £13 and the out-patients, 4/4.

The actual cost of maintaining one bed throughout the year is £180. The expenditure of the hospital, including the Little Folks’ Home, is £34,000, and the Endowment Income is only £1,650.

The result would be dire if this appeal does not meet with an adequate response, but we are very much in hope that it will, seeing what good work is being done how sad it would be if it had to stop.