NHS Chaperone¹ Policy:

“All patients should routinely be offered a chaperone during any consultation or procedure. This does not mean that every consultation needs to be interrupted in order to ask if the patient wants a third party present. The offer of a chaperone should be made clear to the patient prior to any procedure.” [end quote] _ ¹ a person who accompanies and looks after another person or group of people. WHY IS THIS USEFUL? Khalwah (seclusion between two people of the opposite gender) is generally Ḥarām. You can now avoid Khalwah during your hospital appointments by requesting a chaperone. Perhaps they've had so many cases of inappropriate behaviour that they've had to offer this service. ٠ عَنْ عُقْبَةَ بْنِ عَامِرٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ: ‏((لاَ يَخْلُوَنَّ رَجُلٌ بِامْرَأَةٍ إِلاَّ كَانَ ثَالِثَهُمَا الشَّيْطَانُ)).‏ Narrated ’Uqbah ibn ’Āmir: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “None of you should be alone with a woman for the Shaitan will be the third one present.” [Reported by Tirmithi; graded Sahih by Sheikh Albāni raḥimahullāh]