Policy
Ascend Medical is committed to providing a safe, comfortable environment where clients and staff can be confident that best practice is being followed at all times and the safety of everyone is of paramount importance.
This policy is designed to protect both clients and staff from abuse or allegations of abuse and to assist patients to make an informed choice about their examinations and consultations. It adheres to national guidance, in particular as described by The General Medical Council.
All clients are welcome to have a chaperone present in the consulting room where they feel one is required. This chaperone may be a family member or friend.
The doctor may also require a chaperone to be present for certain consultations in accordance with our chaperone policy.
All our practitioners and staff will be aware of and have received appropriate information in relation to this policy.
Our practitioners and staff will:
- Explain procedures to the client as necessary and respond to their questions.
- Comply with any request from a client not to carry out any procedure, although this may require the assessment to be terminated.
- When examining a child or vulnerable adult, allow any request for a parent or carer to accompany the patient in the consulting room unless it is contrary to the declared wishes of a “Gillick competent” child.
- Where it is thought appropriate, keep the consulting room door ajar to enable the parent or carer to hear the consultation if they are not in the consulting room.
- Maintain an open-access policy – i.e. a policy which means that colleagues are able to simply knock and enter the consulting room at any time without having to wait to be invited in after knocking.
- Explain what they are doing during the examination, the outcome when it is complete and what they propose to do next. Keep discussion relevant and avoid personal comments.
- Record any other relevant issues or concerns immediately following the consultation.
Protocol
All clients are entitled to have a chaperone present in the consulting room where they feel one is required. This chaperone may be a family member or friend.
The doctor should briefly explain any examination, procedure or consultation to the client and the client should be offered the choice to have a chaperone present during the examination or consultation.
Should the doctors (both male and female) consider a personal or intimate examination of the client (either male or female) to be justified, or whether any aspect of the consultation poses a risk of misunderstanding, the doctor must offer a chaperone.
The client should be given a choice as to whether a member of staff acts as chaperone, or a person of their own choice. The decision of the client and the details of the chaperone are to be recorded. Clients who request a chaperone should never be examined without a chaperone being present. If necessary, where a chaperone is not available, the consultation or examination should be rearranged for a mutually convenient time when a chaperone can be present.
Should the doctors consider it unwise to continue without a chaperone, then this must be explained and appropriate arrangements offered. The examination or consultation should be suspended and the circumstances documented.
Where the practice determines that a non-clinician will act in this capacity the client must agree to the presence of a non-clinician in the examination, and be at ease with this. That person should be trained in the procedural aspects of personal examinations, comfortable in acting in the role of chaperone, and be confident in the scope and extent of their role. They will have received instruction on where to stand and what to watch and instructions to that effect will be laid down in writing (see below).
The chaperone should only be present for the examination itself, and most discussion with the client should take place while the chaperone is not present.
Clients should be reassured that all practice staff understand their responsibility not to divulge confidential information.
Procedure
- In the first place the clinician will contact his or her colleague to request that they act as chaperone. If acceptable to the client Mrs Taylor may undertake the role.
- The clinician will record in the notes that the chaperone is present, and identify the chaperone.
- Where no chaperone is available, and one is requested by either party, the examination will not take place – the patient should not normally be permitted to dispense with the chaperone once a desire to have one present has been expressed.
- The chaperone will enter the room discreetly, introduce themselves to the patient and remain in room until the clinician has finished the examination. They would normally watch any examinations.
- If the chaperone does not have a clinical qualification they should not be expected to assist the doctor or to handle clinical specimens.
- To prevent embarrassment, the chaperone should not enter into conversation with the client or doctor unless requested to do so, or make any mention of the consultation afterwards. The chaperone may however provide reassurance and support to the client.
- If a member of staff acting as a chaperone is unhappy with the conduct of the doctor carrying out the procedure they can discuss this, in complete confidence, with any clinical colleague.