Requesting a chaperone
All medical consultations can be distressing, particularly those involving intimate examinations. A chaperone is an impartial observer present during an intimate examination of a patient, serving to protect both patients and staff. Patients may request a chaperone when booking consultations or during appointments.
The practice acknowledges cultural considerations, especially when clinicians are of the opposite sex, and emphasises providing chaperones for children and young people.
What chaperones do
According to the General Medical Council, a chaperone should typically be a health professional who:
- Maintains patient dignity and confidentiality
- Reassures patients showing distress or discomfort
- Understands routine intimate examination procedures
- Remains throughout the examination, positioned to observe the clinician’s actions
- Can raise concerns about inappropriate behaviour
When chaperones are unavailable
When a chaperone is not available, doctors consider clinical urgency:
- Non-urgent examinations are rescheduled for mutual convenience
- If urgent hospital admission is indicated, examination may be deferred until then
- Only when examination is urgent and hospital admission is not indicated may a doctor proceed without a chaperone, with patient consent and documented rationale
Medical records
The practice records chaperone information including who served as chaperone, their title, and whether offers were accepted or declined.