Chaperone policy

You can have a chaperone with you for any examination. A chaperone is a trained member of our staff who stays in the room while you are examined.

When we offer a chaperone

We offer you a chaperone when we examine you. We will always offer one before an intimate examination. This means an examination of your breasts, genitals or bottom (rectum).

You can ask for a chaperone for any examination, even if we have not offered one, for any reason. You do not have to explain why.

How to ask for a chaperone

Tell us when you book, in the online form, by phone or at reception. You can also ask the doctor or nurse at the start of your appointment, or at any time during it.

If you would prefer a chaperone of a particular sex, tell us. We will try to arrange this. If nobody suitable is free at the time, we can rebook your examination for when they are, unless it is urgent.

Who can be a chaperone

Any member of our staff can be your chaperone, as long as they have been trained for the role. They might be a nurse, a healthcare assistant or another member of our team. Every chaperone has a DBS check, and we keep a record of everyone who has been trained.

A family member or friend can come with you for support, but they cannot be your chaperone, except for a child under 12 (see children and young people). We can still offer you one of our staff as well.

What the chaperone does

• stays in the room for the examination
• makes sure you are comfortable and your privacy and dignity are respected
• can help you if you feel uncomfortable or want the examination to stop

You can ask to stop the examination at any time.

If you do not want a chaperone

You can say no to a chaperone, or say no to a particular person. We will respect your choice.

Sometimes the doctor or nurse may not feel able to do the examination without a chaperone. If so, they will explain why and offer you another time when a chaperone can be there.

Children and young people

• For babies and children under 12, a parent or carer can be the chaperone. You can also ask for a trained member of our staff.
• For young people aged 12 to 17, we offer a trained chaperone before any intimate examination. A parent or carer can be there as well if the young person wants. If the young person does not want a chaperone, we will not do the intimate examination. We will explain why and talk about other options.

If no trained chaperone is free, the doctor will decide what is safest, depending on how urgent the examination is. They follow the General Medical Council's guidance for doctors.

Phone and video appointments

We do not do intimate examinations by phone or video. If you need one, we will see you in person.

We will never ask you to send a photo of an intimate part of your body. Please do not send one, even if you think it would help.

What we write in your record

We record that we offered you a chaperone, what you decided, and the name of anyone who was in the room.

If you are unhappy

If you are worried about how an examination was carried out, tell us or make a complaint.