Chaperone Policy
Your Right to a Chaperone
At Imperial College Health Centre, we are committed to providing care that is respectful, safe and comfortable for all patients.
We understand that some examinations or consultations may feel personal or sensitive. For this reason, you have the right to request a chaperone for any appointment, examination or procedure.
A chaperone is a trained member of our practice team who is present during a consultation or examination. Their role is to support both the patient and clinician and help ensure that everyone feels comfortable and reassured.
When Might a Chaperone Be Offered?
A chaperone may be offered during examinations that involve intimate areas of the body, including:
- Breast examinations
- Genital examinations
- Rectal examinations
- Any examination you may find sensitive or uncomfortable
A clinician may also offer, or request, the presence of a chaperone for other consultations or examinations if they feel it is appropriate. This is a normal part of clinical practice and is intended to support the safety, dignity and wellbeing of both patients and healthcare professionals.
Requesting a Chaperone
You may request a chaperone:
- When booking your appointment
- Before your consultation begins
- At any point during your appointment
Where possible, we will arrange for a trained chaperone to be available. If a chaperone is unavailable, you may be offered the choice of:
- Rearranging your appointment
- Waiting until a chaperone becomes available
- Proceeding without a chaperone if you are comfortable to do so
Clinician Request for a Chaperone
In some circumstances, a clinician may require a chaperone to be present before carrying out an examination or procedure. This may be because the examination is intimate in nature, because it involves a child or vulnerable adult, or because the clinician considers a chaperone necessary in line with professional guidance and good clinical practice.
If a clinician requests a chaperone and one is not immediately available, you may be asked to wait until a chaperone can attend or to rearrange your appointment. If you choose not to have a chaperone present when one has been requested by the clinician, the examination or procedure may not be able to proceed.
This helps ensure a safe, respectful and professional environment for both patients and healthcare staff.
Who Can Act as a Chaperone?
Our chaperones are usually trained members of the practice team, such as:
- Nurses
- Healthcare assistants
- Other appropriately trained clinical staff
Family members or friends may accompany you during a consultation if you wish. However, they cannot act as formal chaperones.
Children and Young People
Children and young people are entitled to request a chaperone in the same way as adults. Parents, guardians or carers may also request a chaperone to be present during an examination.
The clinician will always aim to act in the best interests of the child or young person and ensure they feel safe and comfortable throughout the consultation.
If You Prefer a Clinician of a Particular Gender
We understand that some patients may prefer to see a male or female clinician for certain consultations or examinations.
Please let our reception team know when booking your appointment and we will do our best to accommodate your preference. However, this may not always be possible at short notice.
Confidentiality
All chaperones are bound by strict confidentiality requirements and will respect your privacy at all times.
Details of the offer of a chaperone, and whether one was present during the consultation, may be recorded in your medical record.
Questions?
If you have any questions about our chaperone arrangements, please speak to a member of our administration team or your clinician.
We are committed to ensuring that all patients feel respected, supported and comfortable during every consultation.