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Chaperoning Guidelines for Clinical Staff
Written by Diane Lashbrook   

Certain investigations and treatments require health care professionals to undertake intimate examination of the patient.

High profile cases such as the Clifford Ayling Report, 2004, have highlighted the need for every Trust to review its Chaperoning Guidelines and Procedures. (Committee of Inquiry, Independent Investigation into how the NHS handles allegations about the conduct of Clifford Ayling, 15.05.04 – The Honourable Mrs. Justice Pauffley, DBE).


The Report *Clifford Ayling 2004) found that there was no common definition of the role of a chaperone.

Four differing role functions are described in the Report:
  1. A chaperone provides a safeguard for a patient against humiliation, pain or distress during an examination and protects against verbal, physical, sexual or other abuse.
  2. A chaperone provides physical and emotional comfort and reassurance to a patient during sensitive and intimate examinations or treatment.
  3. An experienced chaperone will identify unusual or unacceptable behaviour on the part of the health care professional.
  4. A chaperone may also provide protection for the health care professional.

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Last Updated on Tuesday, 17 January 2012 10:07