Requesting a woman as a chaperone for medical procedures

It is essential we do all we can to make a patient comfortable and at ease during any examination or procedure FULL STOP. But it is that sentence cannot have any buts. Or it just contradicts itself and invalidates the patient's needs. The health practitioners 'needs' do not trump the patients. They need to stop making stupid statements if they are are going to follow up with knocking it down. Hes probably scared and bullied himself.

I can’t read any of the screenshots in the OP. Please could someone post a link, and if posting screens, post a link alongside. Otherwise it’s not very inclusive 😉

That's alright then, Simon.

Ok so hands up - who knows how many man - since the beginning of all time - have given birth? No clues...

Simon has followed up with a few tweets:

It is essential we do all we can to make a patient comfortable and at ease during any examination or procedure. But it is wrong to negate a colleague’s gender, to their face, in front of others including the patient.
Sensitivity is key here.

Then:
Both - so you talk to them separately. In front of each other is awful for both. Clinical staff are used to using diplomacy to create safe spaces to talk about difficult subjects. Sending friends/relatives for coffee to allow space to address possible abuse, for example.

And finally:
^Absolutely. The story was of one dr calling out another’s Trans status in front of the patient. That’s what I objected to.
The patient’s view isn’t mentioned in the OP.^

I’m not on twitter but is anyone responding to NHS staff about prioritising patients?

Yeah this happened 🙄

All HCPs irrespective of gender or birth sex or gender need to offer patients the option of a chaperone for intimate procedures (who equally could be of either Dec or gender but is most usually the same gender as the patient being examined)

This story has really disturbed me. It’s been retweeted by a number of senior NHS doctors - including a Consultant Peadiatrician who is also the Safeguarding Lead.
No concern for the female patient in the slightest.

I am extremely troubled by Simon Eccles contribution to this discussion.

This man is in change of NHS policies? He hasn't even mentioned the patient!

The NHS policy maker guy is one step from the position that women patients who want same sex to do stuff, or to be present, are buillies.

Does the NHS have a policy on patients who are considered to bully NHS workers ie remove them from lists, not treat them, prosecution? Just out of interest. We're not there yet but this Simon guy seems quite extreme in his opinions already.

Nobody with a penis is getting near my bits no matter how they are dressed/identify. (except DH)

I'd make SUCH a fuss.

This is going to put women off from getting smear tests. is one allowed to say, "Not you, thank, someone else, please."

This makes me so angry. First that none of the men gave a shit about the women having an invasive exam. Then a midwife referring a family to mermaids?!? Wtf?

Not sure if it is three doctors. The “me” person states that they accompanied the gynae registrar to A&E.

So that’s a gynaecologist who has been called to A&E to examine a patient who potentially required more expertise than the A&E doctor could supply, plus whoever “me” was. “Me” might have been another doctor, a nurse etc. So only one, female, A&E doctor, looking out for a female patient.

Pity she didn’t ask the patient directly whether she’d like her to stay. The patient was placed in a shitty position, to be fair. Nowadays I”d probably ask the female doctor to stay as what she did was courageous in the current climate, but in years gone by, I’d probably have said it was fine to keep the peace and “be kind”.

I am in the litigious United States, but make doctors do not do Pap smears or really any vaginal exams without a female employee in the room. It’s not just for the patient’s comfort, it is as much to protect the doctor from allegations.

Sounds like a work of fiction to me
Where ever do two docs do an exam?

One as a chaperone?! How is a male chaperone even a chaperone.
It's all bollocks!

Midwife literally means ‘with-woman’

A huge fuck you to that trans-friendly not-really-with-women midwife!

And while I think the story has been simplified and is likely paraphrasing- that isn’t transphobia you dickhead! It’s a woman concerned for another woman’s comfort rather than your validation.

It is about taking a moment to ask the patient who they want to have present during an intimate medical examination, and listening when they tell you. The personal feelings of the HCPs are of secondary importance in this situation.

If I say I want a female chaperone then that is exactly what I mean. If I wanted a feminine chaperone (no idea why I would) then I'd ask for that instead (and assume the response would be bafflement).

It's not about the gps bloody gender. It's about their biological sex. I would not want a transwoman acting as my female chaperone as their biological sex is not female. Biology is a reality. Gender is simply a feeling.

I agree that the original post is likely BS.

What is astounding though is Simon Eccles - a very senior doctor suggesting that it was bullying and might have led to the TW killing herself.

Women really aren't going to be allowed any boundaries are we, even bodily autonomy? I don't care about Dr Haddock- he's a loon - but Eccles is a very senior policy-maker: it's disturbing.

This appears to have been made up in an attempt to win sympathy for the idea that transwomen HCPs should be treated as if they were born female by both patients and NHS guidelines. Rather a comical own goal in that it exposes how self centered the thinking behind that demand is, and how totally lacking in any concern for quality of patient experience.

Chaperoning isn't sex/gender based, both male and female doctors are chaperoned by a non doctor, female midwives aren't. The story sounds bizarre.

Absolute batshit nonsense.

All the screenshots in this thread read like The Creepy Fuckers 101 Guide to disassociating women from their bodies and their boundaries.

I do suspect the Gyne exam one might be made up though.

I think I've had my ration of photos today so can't post any more screen grabs but it goes without saying that she has a workbook on "The Cissexist Language of Midwifery Care and Reproductive Justice".

My days of needing a midwife are long over thank God but should I meet one who spouts that nonsense there will be sharp words. Why are the sensibilities of the 99.9% of pregnant women so unimportant?