Chaperone Policy

What is a Chaperone?

A chaperone is an individual present as a safeguard for both parties and is a witness in examinations/consultations to both the conduct of both parties and the ongoing consent of the patient.

The precise role of the chaperone varied depending on circumstances, most commonly including:

• Providing protection to healthcare professionals against unfounded allegations of improper behaviour.
• Assisting in the examination/procedure, for example handing instruments.
• Assisting with undressing, dressing, and positioning of patients.
• Providing a degree of emotional support and reassurance to patients.
• Raising concerns if they are concerned about the clinician’s behaviour or actions.

Who may Chaperone?

As per GMC guidance, relatives or friends of the patient are not considered to be an impartial observer so would not usually be a suitable chaperone, but staff at this organisation should comply with a reasonable request to have such a person present in addition to the chaperone.

Chaperones must have undertaken appropriate training to understand the role expected of them and must not be expected to undertake a role for which they have not been trained.

Protecting the patient from vulnerability and embarrassment means that the chaperone will usually be of the same gender as the patient. There may be occasions when no staff of the same gender as the patient are available. On any such occasion, provided it is clinically appropriate to delay the examination / procedure, the patient will be offered the option to rebook for the examination / procedure at a time when a clinician of their choice is available.

Offering a Chaperone

The relationship between a patient and healthcare professionals is based on trust. All patients have equity of access to chaperones in identical clinical situations. Any patient is entitled to a chaperone if they feel one is required. A patient’s access to appointments shall not be impacted by the need to have a chaperone present.

If the clinician does not want to proceed with a consultation or examination without a chaperone but the patient has refused a chaperone, the clinician must clearly explain why they want a chaperone present. The GMC states that ultimately the patient’s clinical needs must take precedence.

Where not clinically necessary, there may be cases where the practitioner makes a professional judgement that they cannot conduct the examination of procedure without a chaperone present and may decline to proceed without a chaperone. Examples include where the healthcare professional considers here is a significant risk of the patient experiencing distress, displaying unpredictable behaviour, or making false accusations. In any such case, the practitioner must make his/her own decision and carefully document their decision and rationale in the notes along with the details of any procedure undertaken.

The clinician may wish to consider referring the patient to a colleague who would be willing to examine them without a chaperone, or to rearrange the appointment/examination to a future date with a chaperone with the patient’s consent, so long as a delay would not adversely affect the patient’s health.

The GMC advises that if either the clinician or the patient does not want the examination/consultation to go ahead without a chaperone present, of if either is uncomfortable with the choice of chaperone, the clinician may offer to delay the examination/consultation until a later date when a suitable chaperone will be available as long as the delay would not adversely affect the patient’s health.

Practice Procedure

If a chaperone was not requested at the time of booking the appointment, the clinician will offer the patient a chaperone explaining the requirements:

• Contact reception and request a chaperone
• Record in the individual’s healthcare record that a chaperone is present and identify them
• The chaperone should be introduced to the patient
• The chaperone should assist as required but maintain a position so that they are able to witness the procedure/examination (usually at the head end)
• The chaperone should adhere to their role at all times
• Post procedure or examination, the chaperone should ensure they annotate in the patient’s healthcare record that they were present during the examination and there were no issues observed
• The clinician will annotate in the individual’s healthcare record the full details of the procedure as per current medical records policy