Patient Information Policies

Chaperone Policy 

This policy is designed to protect both patients and staff. All Health Care Professionals employed by and working at Beech Tree Medical Practice have been made aware of and are encouraged to follow this policy.

Patients are made aware they can ask for a chaperone at any time through notices displayed in our waiting room, treatment rooms and GP consulting rooms.

At this organisation, it is policy that any member of the team can act as a chaperone, All staff must complete chaperone awareness training which covers the role of the chaperone.

The role of a chaperone

• be sensitive and respect the patient’s dignity and confidentiality
• reassure the patient if they show signs of distress or discomfort
• be familiar with the procedures involved in a routine intimate examination
• stay for the whole examination and be able to see what the doctor is doing, if practical

Process for providing a chaperone

• Once the Health Care Professional has decided that an intimate examination is necessary, or that patient or clinician factors make a chaperone advisable for a routine examination, the clinician must first explain to the patient why such an examination is necessary and give the patient an opportunity to ask questions.
• Explain what the examination will involve, in a way the patient can understand, so that the patient has a clear idea of what to expect, including any pain or discomfort.
• Assess the patient’s capacity to consent to the examination.
• Obtain consent and record that consent has been given.
• Offer the patient a chaperone and document the name of the chaperone if used.
• If there are no suitable chaperones available the clinician must decide whether to proceed, if the examination is urgent, or whether to rebook a further appointment for examination, and document the reasons for that decision.
• If the patient declines a chaperone the clinician must decide whether to proceed, if the examination is urgent, or whether to rebook a further appointment for examination, and document the reasons for the decision.