Chaperone Policy

The Practitioner Health Service (NHS Practitioner Health Programme, NHS GP Health Service and Trainee Doctor and Dentist Support Service) is committed to providing a safe, comfortable environment where patients and staff can be confident that best practice is being followed at all times and the safety of everyone is of paramount importance.

At Practitioner Health Services we rarely have the need to carry out intimate examination and procedures and so it is unlikely that chaperones will need to be offered or required.

However there may be occasions when the service carries out therapeutic hair or urine testing which may involve an intimate procedure. On these occasions a chaperone will always be offered.

All patients are entitled to have a chaperone present for any consultation, examination or procedure where they feel one is required. This chaperone may be a family member or friend. On occasions you may prefer a formal chaperone to be present, i.e. a trained member of staff.

Wherever possible we would ask you to make this request at the time of booking appointment so that arrangements can be made and your appointment is not delayed in any way. Where this is not possible we will endeavour to provide a formal chaperone at the time of request. However occasionally it may be necessary to reschedule your appointment.

Your healthcare professional may also require a chaperone to be present for certain consultations in accordance with our chaperone policy.