At Hughenden Valley and Chequers Surgeries we are committed to providing a safe and comfortable environment where patients and staff can be confident that best practice is being followed at all times.
The safety of everyone is of paramount importance.
For your peace of mind, all of our staff have undergone formal chaperone training and assessment.
If you would like a chaperone present during your consultation, please advise the receptionist when booking your appointment or when checking in or you can ask the person you are seeing when you are in your appointment.
Chaperone & Intimate Examination Policy
We follow the GMC guidance regarding intimate examinations:
‘Intimate examinations can be embarrassing or distressing for patients and whenever a patient is examined, the healthcare professional should be sensitive to what they may think of as intimate.
This is likely to include examinations of breasts, genitalia and rectum, but could also include any examination where it is necessary to touch or even be close to the patient.
In this guidance, the General Medical Council highlights some of the issues involved in carrying out intimate examinations.
This must not deter the healthcare professional from carrying out intimate examinations when necessary.
The healthcare professional must follow this guidance and make detailed and accurate records at the time of the examination, or as soon as possible afterwards.’
Before conducting an intimate examination, we will:
a. explain why an examination is necessary and give you an opportunity to ask questions
b. explain what the examination will involve, in a way you can understand, so you have a clear idea of what to expect, including any discomfort
c. get your permission before the examination
d. offer you a chaperone (see below)
e. give you privacy to undress and dress
During the examination, we will
a. explain what is being done and why
b. stop the examination if you asks us to
We follow the GMC guideance regarding chaperones:
‘When an intimate examination is carried out, an impartial observer(a chaperone) will be offered to the patient wherever possible either verbally or displayed in writing.
This will be the case whether or not your healthcare professional is the same gender as you.
A relative or friend of the patient is not an impartial observer and so would not usually be a suitable chaperone, but the healthcare professional will comply
with a reasonable request to have such a person present as well as a chaperone if that is what you want.’
The chaperone will be a member of the team who is fully trained to be a chaperone and who will:
a. be sensitive and respect your dignity and confidentiality
b. reassure you if you show signs of worry, distress or discomfort
c. be familiar with the procedures involved in a routine intimate examination
d. stay for the whole examination and be able to see what the doctor is doing, if practical
e. be prepared to raise concerns if they are concerned about the healthcare professional’s behaviour or actions.
This Chaperone & Intimate Examination Policy is a reflection of the Professional Guidance from the General Medical Council, full details of which can be found here.
and also adheres to the ‘National Clinical Governance Support Team (UK) ‘Guidance On The Role And Effective Use Of Chaperones In Primary And Community Care Settings Model Chaperone Framework”, which can be found here.
A copy of this Practice Chaperone & Intimate Examination Policy is available in the form of information leaflets in both practices.