Who can act as a chaperone

At Lambourn Surgery, it is policy that any member of the team can act as a chaperone.

However, they must have undertaken chaperone training and have undergone a DBS check.

Chaperone training which should include:

• what is meant by the term chaperone
• what is an ‘intimate examination’
• why chaperones need to be present
• the rights of the patient
• their role and responsibilities. It is important chaperones should place themselves inside the screened-off area rather than outside of the curtains/screen
• policy and mechanism for raising concerns.

As per the 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 practice should comply with a reasonable request to have such a person present in addition to the chaperone.

Role and expectations of a chaperone

Staff acting as a chaperone should be present throughout the entire examination.  They should understand the nature of the examination and respect the patients dignity and confidentiality.   Chaperones must be prepared to raise concerns if needed.  Concerns can be raised with the clinician, a Senior Partner or the Practice Manager.

When a chaperone is unavailable

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

When a patient refuses a chaperone

If the clinician does not want to proceed with the examination without a chaperone but the patient has refused a chaperone, the clinician must clearly explain why they want a chaperone to be present. The GMC states that ultimately the patient’s clinical needs must take precedence. The clinician may wish to consider referring the patient to a colleague who would be willing to examine them without a chaperone providing a delay would not adversely affect the patient’s health.

Home visits and chaperones

Healthcare professionals working alone, especially during intimate examinations or in isolated settings like a patient’s home, face increased risk of their actions being misinterpreted. To mitigate this, they should offer a chaperone in advance of the appointment where possible. Where this is not possible, they should ensure clear communication and thorough documentation explaining why the examination proceeded without a chaperone present and that this was agreed with the patient.

Vulnerable patients

If the patient cannot make an informed decision, the healthcare professional must use their clinical judgement and be able to justify their course of action. The practice will ensure that reasonable adjustments are made for vulnerable patients.

Children and young people under 18 years

Intimate examination on children and young people under 18 years should be carried out in the presence of a formal chaperone, this protects both patient safety and professional standards. This applies even when a parent or guardian is present. Parents or guardians must receive an appropriate explanation of the procedure to provide informed consent when the young person is unable to do so themselves.

Further guidance in relation to chaperoning