This course explains how to carry out intimate examinations safely, respectfully and lawfully, including valid consent, offering and using chaperones, communication, and documentation. It also helps professionals who have received a complaint or concern about an intimate examination to reflect with insight and build a remediation plan.
What you will learn
- Describe what counts as an intimate examination and why patients may experience it as intimate, including cultural and personal factors.
- Obtain valid consent for an intimate examination, including for patients who lack capacity, children and young people, and patients under anaesthesia.
- Offer a chaperone appropriately, explain the role of a chaperone, and act correctly when a patient declines or no chaperone is available.
- Communicate clearly before, during and after an examination to maintain dignity and avoid misunderstanding.
- Document an intimate examination and the chaperone discussion accurately.
- Write a reflection and remediation plan following a concern about an intimate examination.
Course content
- Why this matters (2 min)
- Valid consent for intimate examinations (4 min)
- Chaperones: role, choice and practicalities (4 min)
- Communication, dignity and professional boundaries (2 min)
- Documentation and why things go wrong (2 min)
- Regulator expectations and immediate actions after a concern (2 min)
- Case study, reflection and remediation plan (3 min)
- Knowledge check (10 questions, 10 min)
- Guided reflection (15 min)
Standards and guidance covered
- GMC: Intimate examinations and chaperones
- GMC: Decision making and consent (2020)
- GMC: Maintaining personal and professional boundaries (2024)
- GMC: Good Medical Practice (2024)
- NMC: The Code (2015, updated 2018), including the sections on consent, dignity and professional boundaries
- HCPC: Standards of conduct, performance and ethics (2024), including the standards on consent and on maintaining appropriate boundaries
- Mental Capacity Act 2005 and its Code of Practice
- Equality Act 2010
Certificate
Courses are free to study. When you pass the knowledge check (80%) and complete your reflection, you can buy a verified certificate showing your CPD time, with a unique ID and QR code that anyone can check on our verification page.
Study free at your own pace on any device.
Practitioner Insight is an independent education provider. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the GMC, MPTS, NMC, HCPC, GPhC or any NHS organisation, and this information is not legal advice. If you have been referred to a regulator, speak to your defence organisation, trade union or legal representative.