PIFU service proves a success Hundreds of ISS colleagues officially join Team LUHFT

We are delighted to officially welcome ISS colleagues to the Trust, as hotel services colleagues from our Royal and Broadgreen hospitals move in-house.

Hundreds of our colleagues in cleaning, catering and portering, can expect improved working terms and conditions and greater pay, as they move into NHS employment.

The Therapies Service has seen a big decrease in patients missing their appointments, which in-turn is reducing waiting lists, thanks to a process which allows patients more control over when they need to be seen.

As part of our Outpatient Transformation Programme, the Patient Initiated Follow-up (PIFU) process gives patients flexibility to arrange their follow-up appointments as and when they need them, based on their symptoms or any flare-ups they have with long or short-term conditions.

This has meant the service is more efficient as unnecessary patient attendances are avoided, plus DNAs (Did Not Attend) are reduced, so the team has more clinical time to see urgent cases and reduce waiting lists – ensuring it’s a better patient experience with improved outcomes.

Michelle Berrick, from Therapies said: “Initially some of the team were apprehensive about PIFU. There were concerns that patients could get ‘lost’ and care would be compromised. But clinicians discuss with patients when PIFU is an appropriate option. Transferring patients onto PIFU is done safely when patients are at a stage in their rehabilitation journey to take control of their own pathway. It also supports that important transition from regular attendance to discharge and self-management.”

The process allows clinicians to still book follow-up appointments when this is the best option for the patient, but it also benefits patients that don’t need to come back.

This change will also give us greater flexibility of how these services run and colleagues can expect to see improvements made to food and refreshments available on-site.

Heather Barnett, Chief People Officer, said: “It is fantastic that our colleagues, who play such valuable roles in our hospitals, can now benefit from the same conditions as their NHS counterparts.

“LUHFT is one of the largest employers in the region. We have a duty to invest in our workforce, and the decision to bring these roles in-house helps us deliver on our vision, to support communities to live healthier, happier, fairer lives.”

Joe Baldwin, Chair of UNISON Liverpool Hospitals Health Branch, said: “We welcome the decision to bring this service back into the NHS. We have been campaigning for a long time for these members to be afforded the same pay and conditions as those of us who work directly for the NHS. This is also about pensions and access to wider opportunities and staff benefits. We are ‘One NHS’ – and our members in this service are a vital part of our health service.”