This does not mean that every consultation needs to be interrupted in order to ask if the patient wants a chaperone to be present. All staff undertaking chaperone training must have a completed DBS (criminal records) check.Īll patients should routinely be offered a chaperone during any intimate consultation, examination or procedure.
The reasons for this should be made clear and recorded in the patients records.Īll staff must be aware that chaperones are used to protect both patients and staff. There may be circumstances when a young person does not wish to have a chaperone. The GMC guidance states that a relative or friend of the patient is not an impartial observer and so would not usually be a suitable chaperone. It is important that children and young people are provided with chaperones.
The presence of a chaperone does not remove the need for adequate explanation and courtesy and neither can it provide full assurance that the procedure or examination is conducted appropriately. In such circumstances the doctor will assess the circumstances and decide if it is appropriate to go ahead without one.CHAPERONE POLICY FOR INTIMATE EXAMINATIONįor most patients, respect, explanation, consent and privacy take precedence over the need for a chaperone. There may be occasions when a chaperone is unavailable (for example on a home visit or when no trained chaperone of the appropriate sex is in the building). Patients should raise any concerns/make any complaint via the practice’s usual comments/complaints procedure. Should you have a concern about a chaperone. The clinician will explain to you what the chaperone will be doing and where they shall be in the room. The positioning of the chaperone will depend on several factors for example the nature of the examination and whether or not the chaperone has to help the clinician with the procedure. Pleasant/approachable/professional in manner, able to put them at ease.The Patient can expect the chaperone to be: If the patient does not want a chaperone it will be recorded in the notes.
Offer a chaperone to all patients for intimate examinations (or examinations which may be construed as such).Obtain and record the patient’s consent.Give the patient the opportunity to ask questions.Establish there is a need for an intimate examination and discuss this with the patient.If an intimate examination is required, the clinician will: This will be a decision based on both clinical need and the requirement for protection against any potential allegations of improper conduct.Ĭonsultations involving intimate examinations:
If the patient still declines the doctor will need to decide whether or not they are happy to proceed in the absence of a chaperone. However the clinician may feel that it would be wise to have a chaperone present for their mutual protection for example, an intimate examination on a young adult of the opposite gender.
Patients have the right to decline the offer of a chaperone. Obvious examples of an intimate examination include examinations of the breasts, genitalia and the rectum but it also extends to any examination where it is necessary to touch or be close to the patient for example conducting eye examinations in dimmed lighting, taking the blood pressure or palpating the apex beat.Īll patients are entitled to have a chaperone present for any consultation, examination or procedure where they feel one is required. There are two considerations involved in having a chaperone to assist during intimate examinations namely for the comfort of the patient and the protection of the doctor/nurse from allegations of impropriety. Family members or friend may be present but they cannot act as a formal chaperone. The Practice is committed to providing a safe comfortable environment where patients and staff can be confident that best practice is being followed at all times and the safety of everyone is of paramount importance.Ī formal chaperone is a person who serves as a witness for both a patient and a medical practitioner as a safeguard for both parties during a medical examination or procedure and is a witness to continuing consent of the procedure.