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Again the amount of work has increased, partly due to the
rising birth rate (17.85 as against 16.52 in 1942), and partly to the
fact that the clinics are being used increasingly in this area. The
clinics have worked to their maximum capacity and the co-operation
and conscientious work of the health visitors and midwives has been
most valuable.
In order to facilitate the regular supervision of ante-natal
cases, provision has been made for patients to be conveyed to the
ante-natal clinics and home again where necessary, by the Corporation
ambulance service.
Despite war-time difficulties, the standard of health of the
mothers attending the clinics has been good. The special war-time
provisions for additional rations have been fully used and much
appreciated.
As in previous years the Mothers' Hospital, Clapton, and the
North Middlesex Hospital have continued to work closely with the
ante-natal clincis.
Prevention of Rickets.
The popularity of the ante-natal clinics and the health visitors'
and midwives' visits, have assisted in encouraging expectant and
nursing mothers to take a balanced and adequate diet, and to avail
themselves of the vitamins and extra milk, oranges and eggs
provided under the Ministry of Health schemes. The Report of the
British Paediatric Association published during the year on behalf
of the Ministry of Health, emphasised again, the high incidence
of minor degrees of rickets among young children, even breast-fed