Chaperone Policy
When & how should a chaperone be offered?
- Information concerning the availability of chaperones is made to patient by:
- Signs in each consulting and treatment room.
- Chaperoning information on practice website.
It will only be apparent that a chaperone will be necessary once the consultation is started. The triggers that make the offer of a chaperone necessary include:
- When an examination which is not intimate, but involves close proximity, physical contact or dim lighting is necessary and the clinician is concerned that a chaperone is necessary; this may be to protect him/herself, or if the patient is particularly vulnerable or at risk.
- Whether the patient and clinician are the same sex or not is not relevant; an offer of a chaperone should be made regardless. However, if the sex of both parties is the same it is likely that the clinician will less frequently consider themselves to need a chaperone present to proceed as the risk of allegation is reduced, though they must be aware it is by no means absent.
- Therapists are also entitled to ask for a Chaperone when treating a patient. Appointments must be booked when another treating therapist is available.
- During the consultation in which a chaperone is required
It is important to provide an environment in which the patient feels relaxed, and is given privacy to undress in preparation for the examination.
Prior to examination, the patient must be given a full explanation of the reason for the examination and what will be done and if possible how it will feel.
There should be no undue delay prior to examination once the patient has removed any clothing.
- Offer reassurance
- Be courteous
- Keep discussion relevant
- Avoid unnecessary personal comments
- Encourage questions and discussion
- Remain alert to verbal and non-verbal indicators of distress from the patient
- Any examination requiring the patient to undress should take place in a closed room or well-screened bay that cannot be entered while the examination is in progress.
- Once the patient is dressed following an examination or investigation the findings must be communicated to the patient.
- Any requests that the examination be discontinued should be respected.
Role of the Chaperone
- Their role can be considered in any of the following areas:
- Providing emotional comfort and reassurance to patients
- To act as an observer of the examination to protect the clinician from false allegations.
- Empowered to alert their line manager should they feel any improper behaviour has occurred.
- The chaperone should introduce themselves to the patient by giving their name and explaining that they are a member of the Practice who has received training to act as a chaperone. The two parties should have a short conversation between themselves to ensure there is clear understanding of the role and expectations.
Consent
Consent may be implicit in attending a consultation – for example, a patient attending with shoulder pain may reasonably assume they need to take their top off for a full examination. However, it is always prudent to obtain consent after explanation before all examinations. Verbal consent is sufficient.
The clinician may assume that the patient is seeking treatment and therefore consenting to necessary examinations. However before proceeding with an examination, healthcare professionals should always seek to obtain, by word or gesture, some explicit indication that the patient understands the need for examination and agrees to it being carried out. Consent should always be appropriate to the treatment or investigation being carried out.
The clinician must however be aware that:
- An assessment of capacity may occasionally be necessary to ensure consent is valid.
- That if consent is given, either actual or implied, this is nothing to do with the offer of a chaperone.
If a Chaperone is unavailable
If the patient requests a chaperone, but an appropriate one is not available, the appointment should be re-booked at a time when one is available. The only exception is when there is urgent clinical need – this should be explained to the patient and alternate actions taken (for example referral to GP / walk in centre).
If the treating therapist wants for whatever reason a chaperone to be present, but one is not available, then again the appointment should be re-scheduled unless there is overriding medical need when each case should be taken individually (again referral to GP / Walk in centre could be considered), or the clinician may consider the clinical need overrides his own risk to exposure.
If you would like to read the full version of our Chaperone policy please ask a member of staff.