Up and running, fund raising continues

Soon after, Cassell and Co. (publishers of the "Little Folks" magazine) issued a pamphlet telling the story of how the ward was funded. It noted that 154 children had been received into the ward so far. Of these, five had died and the rest had been sent home either completely cured or greatly improved in health, whilst 12 had been sent to convalescent homes.

At the end of 1904, on 29 December, the London Evening Standard updated its readership on progress at the hospital:

This great Hospital for poor children serves an area occupied by several boroughs, densely crowded with working people. The Matron is Miss Bushby, the Secretary Mr T. Glenton-Kerr, and the Resident Medical Officer Mr Swainson. There is also a nursing staff of nine Sisters and 35 nurses, nearly all of whom have to sleep out. The beds number 114, which are nearly always occupied; and the outpatients are numbered by thousands. The cost of maintenance averages £11,500 a year; while not more than £215 is received form invested property. Generally there is a sum of £4,000 to be made up every year; and this year, but for the opportune assistance of friends, half the beds would have to be closed. Funds are, however, coming in, and the hope is entertained that this drastic remedy may not be resorted to. Mr R. Donkin, of Wimbledon, has towards this deficiency given £250, on condition that five others follow his example. Here the children of many poor aliens are brought, Dutch, French, German, Italians, and Russian and Polish Jews. In fact, Jews make up fully 10 percent of the cases dealt with. The little ones were treated to Punch and Judy shows in three separate wards; and all the wards were decorated in great taste. The happy thought occurred to the nurses of dressing up all the patients in the "Little Folks Ward" as Japs, and the effect was quaint and pleasing.

Funds were raised by various means, a notice in the Buchan Observer and East Aberdeenshire Advertiser on 5 September 1905 read:-

A SALE OF WORK will be held on Saturday 9th September from 3 to 6 o'clock at BAY VIEW, H.M. Convict Prison for the benefit of the "The Little Folks" Ward, North-Eastern Hospital for Children. All cordially invited.

Another notice the next week reported the proceeds of the sale amounted to £8.

Within the pages of the Gentlewoman, 16 December 1905 edition, under the title of 'Christmas Charities' a further appeal was made:

There is a Hospital whose need is dire. £2,500 is wanted in new conditions for maintenance before the end of this month, in order to avoid a deficit on this year's work.  I refer to the North-Eastern Hospital for Children in Hackney Road, which is under the patronage of the Queen, and has done, and is doing such good work that a contribution to Mr Glenton-Kerr, the secretary, may be warmly recommended. It has 116 beds, and last year over 25,000 children were brought to its doors to be helped! The management devotes special attention to the question of abuse of hospitals by persons in a position to pay for suitable medical relief, and is doing its best to assist necessitous cases by co-operation with other charitable agencies. For this double purpose a trained Lady Almoner is employed, and is doing excellent work among the poor people. But perhaps the picture on this page of the "Little Folks" Ward will make a more eloquent appeal to the charitable than I can hope to do with my pen.