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friendship. It was found that many of the callers were not necessarily in need of
professional advice from clergymen, doctors, psychiatrists or lawyers, as they often
received the help they needed from the lay volunteers who turned up to assist the
founder. All "Samaritans" are carefully chosen and trained for this sometimes very
exacting work.
After discussion with the Rev. Chad Varah it was decided that the best way that
the Council could help the Samaritans was by judicially publicising their work and in
particular the all important telephone number (Mansion House 9000) through the
Health Bulletin, pamphlets and by word of mouth of officers who are likely to come
into contact with people who are in distress.
INCONTINENCE PADS
The setting up of an incontinence pads service is under active consideration by the
Council, and it is planned to operate a scheme for the provision of pads to incontinent
patients and for the disposal of soiled ones, early in 1966.
It is proposed that the distribution of incontinence pads will be made by the district
nurses when in attendance upon incontinent patients. Arrangements will be made for
the collection from the patient's home and for the disposal of soiled pads in a suitable
incinerator to be installed at the Council's Cleansing Station at Wearside Road.
The service will be extended to include the collection and disposal of soiled dressings
or other materials arising in connection with domiciliary midwifery.
MEDICAL EXAMINATION OF STAFF
During the year 504 medical examinations (451 since the reorganisation of the
Borough) of staff were carried out mainly in connection with the superannuation and
sickness schemes and for some occupations for which medical examinations are
considered advisable.
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