Chaperone Policy

Ultrasound Care is 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.

All patients are entitled to have a chaperone present for any consultation, examination or procedure where they consider one is required. The chaperone may be a family member or friend, but on occasions a formal chaperone may be preferred.

Patients are advised to ask for a chaperone if required at the time of booking an appointment, if possible, so that arrangements can be made and the appointment is not delayed in any way.

The Healthcare Professional may also require a chaperone to be present for certain consultations. All staff are aware of and have received appropriate information and training in relation to the Chaperone Policy.

All understand their role and responsibilities and are competent to perform the role of the chaperone.

Who should act as a chaperone?

The clinic have CRB checked members of staff who are used as a chaperone when requested. Sometimes the patient’s friend or relative may be appropriate. There is no common definition of a chaperone and their role varies considerably depending on the needs of the patient, the healthcare professional and the examination being carried out.

Their role can be considered in any of the following areas:

• Emotional comfort and reassurance to patients.

• Protection to the healthcare professional against allegations and attack.

Our chaperone policy upholds the policy on equality and diversity.

A chaperone may be required in the following situations:

1. Intimate examinations.

2. For patients with certain cultural or religious beliefs any examination requires removing of clothing. This alone may be abhorrent and when dealing with such patients need to approach the subject with particular sensitivity.

3. Ultrasound Care will provide a chaperone if the Sonographer is male (client will be made aware of this at the time of booking). Although, currently as of the publishing date of this blog, all our Sonographers are female.

4. If during the course of the examination the patient requests a chaperone (e.g to go on to a transvaginal scan), a free follow up appointment could be made when an appropriate chaperone would be present.

If chaperone is present, the following must occur:

• Record that permission has been obtained in the patient’s report.

• Once the chaperone has entered the room, they should be introduced by name and the patient allowed privacy to undress / dress.

• If a chaperone has been present, record that fact and the identity of the chaperone is in the patient’s report.

Chaperone

It is the policy of Ultrasound Care to

respect the privacy, dignity, religious

and cultural beliefs of our patients. If

you feel you would like a chaperone

to be present during your scan ideally

please contact prior to an appointment.

If on the day of the appointment you wish

to have a chaperone present for any

part of your scan, let your

Sonographer know.

We will do our best to comply with

your wishes.