It is important to note that family members cannot fulfil the role of chaperone. Prepared to raise concerns about a doctor if misconduct occurs.Familiar with the procedures involved in the relevant examination.Aware of their duty of confidentiality.Your Local Area Team may be able to help in terms of identifying locally available training courses for chaperones.Īlthough a chaperone does not have to be medically qualified they must be: Chaperones need to be trained so that they understand what a legitimate clinical examination entails and at what stage it may become inappropriate. Practices should no longer use untrained practice staff to fulfil the role of a chaperone. In addition, the fact that the patient was examined in the absence of a chaperone should be recorded, together with the rationale for this. In such circumstances, the patient’s written consent should be obtained. If the examination is urgent, and hospital admission is not indicated on the history alone, any delay must not adversely affect the patient’s health, so there may be occasions when a doctor goes ahead in the absence of a chaperone.If the examination is clinically indicated on an urgent basis, and the doctor has enough information from the history to indicate that the patient would require an admission to hospital in any event, then it may be appropriate to defer this examination until admission to hospital, again explaining this to the patient and in the referral letter.If the examination is not urgent, then it would be appropriate, after explaining to the patient, to rearrange the appointment for a mutually convenient time when a chaperone and the patient will be available.In such circumstances, the doctor should first consider whether or not on a clinical basis the examination is urgent. There may be occasions when a chaperone is unavailable (for example, on a home visit or in the out-of-hours setting). It is important to always explain to a patient the reasons for any examination and detail what you are intending to do before obtaining their permission to proceed. Their presence may be advantageous during the entirety of a consultation or for a specific part, not necessarily involving a physical examination. It may also be appropriate to offer a chaperone in other circumstances such as consultations with particularly vulnerable patients. However, it is important to remember that what can be classed as an intimate examination may depend on the individual patient. The most obvious example is with intimate examinations, and in these situations a chaperone must be offered. In what circumstances should a chaperone be offered? If a chaperone is present, you should record that fact and make a note of their identity.” You should record any discussion about chaperones and the outcome in the patient’s medical record. be prepared to raise concerns if they are concerned about the doctor’s behaviour or actions.stay for the whole examination and be able to see what the doctor is doing, if practical.be familiar with the procedures involved in a routine intimate examination.reassure the patient if they show signs of distress or discomfort. be sensitive and respect the patient’s dignity and confidentiality.GMC guidance in Good Medical Practice 2013 states, in para 9: “A chaperone should usually be a health professional and you must be satisfied that the chaperone will: The presence of a chaperone can be of reassurance to both patients and doctors, especially when there is a need for an intimate examination to be performed, regardless of the gender of either the doctor or the patient.
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