The use of chaperone in general medical practice is increasing and growing annually in the UK. The Royal College of Nursing, General Medical Council, CQC and the Medical Protection society has created explicit guidelines towards increasing the use of chaperones amongst general practitioners (GPs).
It is vital for every GP to have an effective Chaperone Policy which needs to be implemented whenever required.
It is vital for every GP to have an effective Chaperone Policy which needs to be implemented whenever required.

Use of Chaperones in General Practice
There are many uses of a chaperone in GP. They are a source of:
- Emotional comfort
- Reassurance
- Protection
When you use a chaperone during an intimate physical examination, the patient will be able to feel more comfortable with the test. The presence of a chaperone also instils confidence and trust in the patient towards the doctor.
Importance of Chaperoning within General Practice
It is important for GPs to get the best-qualified professional for chaperones. They should ideally have extensive chaperone training within the general medical practice and have ample amount of experience in practice.
Using a chaperone during intimate physical examinations ensures that the patient feels secure and safe. The emotional vulnerability of the patient is eased with the presence of professional medical chaperone.
Apart from benefits for patients, the chaperone also has several advantages for GPs and other medical professionals who have to frequently perform intimate physical examinations and tests. These may include examining the breasts, genitals or rectum of patients, especially female patients by male GPs. The doctor benefits by preventing the risk of sexual harassment or other allegations of inappropriate behaviour, which is a sad reality in the UK and many other countries.
Selecting the best Chaperone for your General Practice
The guidelines provided to detail the framework of the functions of medical chaperones states several important points. These are essential functions and requirements for a medical chaperone:
- Gender – Female patients mostly require chaperone when a male GP or other medical professional is about to perform an intimate physical examination. These are also required in case a female or a male GP/medical professional is examining a male patient.
- Requirements – It is highly advised to offer the services of a qualified medical chaperone in case there is a need for conducting an intimate medical examination on a patient who is anxious about it. Apart from this, the chaperone is also qualified to assist the GP in performing the test efficiently.
Maguire Training is an expert management and corporate leadership training centre in the UK. The company has been providing efficient and advanced e-learning courses to professionals from varied fields of interest. There is an increasing demand coming from GPs and medical professionals today for providing extensive and effective chaperone training within the general medical practice.