Please ensure your chaperones are trained as they may be called upon to do any of the following …….
- Providing emotional comfort and reassurance to patients
- To assist in the examination, for example carrying out blood pressure checks or blood tests
- To act as an interpreter
- To provide protection to healthcare professionals against unfounded allegations of improper behaviour
- In very rare circumstances to protect the healthcare professional against an aggressive incident
- An experienced chaperone will identify unusual or unacceptable behaviour on the part of the healthcare professional.
- It is wise to gain an understanding from the chaperone as to what they see their role as.
- A chaperone is present as a safeguard for all parties (patient, practitioners and healthcare professional ) and is a witness to continuing consent of the procedure however, a chaperone cannot be a guarantee of protection for either the examiner or examinee.
Written by Jackie Peck