Chaperone Policy

Your Health Partnership is committed to providing, within each of its Outlets, a safe, comfortable environment where patients and staff can be confident that privacy and decency is upheld and best practice is being followed at all times and the safety of everyone is of paramount importance.

The publication of the Clifford Ayling and Richard Neale reports focused the attention on the use of chaperones and have made a number of recommendations which affect how a professional offers chaperone facilities to patients requiring intimate examinations.

This Chaperone Policy adheres to the national guidance contained within the NHS Clinical Governance Support Team’s “Model Chaperone Framework”, “Guidance on the Role and Effective Use of Chaperones in Primary and Community Care Settings” and GMC’s documentation “Intimate Examinations”.

The Chaperone Policy is clearly advertised through patient information leaflets, a poster on the wall of reception and each of the consulting rooms, each individual Outlet website and within the Patient Information Booklet for each Outlet.

This policy details the procedures to be followed in using a chaperone during patient consultations, examinations and investigations, and applies to all healthcare professionals, students and trainees working within any of the Your Health Partnership Outlets.

All patients are entitled to have a chaperone present for any consultation, examination or procedure where they consider one is required. If a patient wishes for a family member or friend to remain in the room, they may do so but cannot act as a chaperone – this must only be done by a trained healthcare professional.

All staff are aware of and have received appropriate information in relation to this Chaperone Policy.