Chaperone Policy
For medical applicants attending Altitude Aeromedical at North Camp Pharmacy, 39–41 Camp Road, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 6EN.
Document: AA-GOV-01 | Version 1.0
Owner: Dr Simon John Forrington
Effective date: 16 September 2026
Review due: 16 September 2027 or earlier after a material change
Purpose and accountability
Applicants must feel safe, respected and able to control an examination. Dr Simon John Forrington is responsible for applying this policy and ensuring that suitable cover is arranged for each clinic. Class 2 examinations must only start after approval for the AME and premises has been received.
Nominated chaperone
Miss Sara Walsh, Clinical Services Manager, Gama Aviation Medical Department, Bournemouth Airport, is the nominated chaperone. She is a trained senior intensive-care nurse with chaperone training, is impartial and is not related to Dr Forrington. Her nomination does not imply that she is routinely present at the Farnborough clinic.
Dr Forrington must confirm availability before a clinic requiring her attendance, retain evidence of her chaperone training and record a briefing on the examinations undertaken. Any substitute must meet the same training, impartiality, confidentiality and competence requirements. A job title alone is not evidence of a specific training course.
Offering a chaperone
Tell applicants at booking that a trained chaperone can be requested. At the consultation, discuss the offer before any examination the applicant may regard as intimate, including relevant undressing and ECG electrode placement. Do not make assumptions based on sex, gender, familiarity or previous attendance. Explain the proposed examination and the chaperone’s role, allow questions, and obtain and record consent.
Ask about communication, cultural and accessibility needs and any preference about the chaperone. Accommodate these where practicable. A friend, relative or advocate may attend for support, but does not replace the trained impartial chaperone.
Conduct of the examination
Introduce the chaperone and explain their role as an observer and support to the applicant. Brief them beforehand and allow questions. Arrange their position so they can observe the examination appropriately while preserving dignity. They must remain for the whole relevant examination and must not be distracted by another task.
Provide privacy to change and expose only the area needed. Explain each step, monitor distress and check permission before changing the examination. Stop if the applicant asks. The chaperone may request a pause and must raise concerns about conduct or safety immediately.
Declining or unavailable chaperones
Record an offer and refusal without pressuring the applicant. If both applicant and clinician are comfortable proceeding without a chaperone, document the discussion and decision. If either is uncomfortable, or a requested suitable chaperone is unavailable, arrange another appointment or an appropriate colleague; do not substitute an untrained observer. Consider any health risk from delay and arrange necessary clinical care separately from certification.
For an applicant under 18, assess their ability to consent and apply GMC guidance on young people. Obtain parental consent or another valid authority where required. For an adult lacking capacity, use the applicable capacity framework; do not treat attendance or a companion’s agreement as consent.
Record and act on concerns
The clinical record must contain the offer, acceptance or refusal, consent, chaperone’s full name and role, examination witnessed, any interruption and action taken. Explain postponement and the agreed next step.
A chaperone must report a concern to Dr Forrington promptly unless inappropriate, and use an external professional or safeguarding route where necessary. Preserve a factual account; follow AA-GOV-04 for complaints and AA-GOV-02 for confidentiality.
Implementation and review
Maintain the chaperone’s training evidence, confidentiality undertaking and clinic availability record. Display the offer in the clinic and provide it with booking information.
Dr Forrington reviews any incidents and a sample of chaperone documentation annually, and changes the policy earlier if guidance or staffing changes.
Source guidance
Checked 16 September 2026. Read these with the current approval conditions and subsequent updates. Local service targets and working arrangements are practice policy, not statutory deadlines.