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Quality improvement: patient initiated follow up begins
We have begun to offer a scheme, patient initiated follow up (PIFU), which puts patients in control of making an appointment with their consultant or healthcare team when they need it the most. The first pilot is for our fracture clinic patients and started on Monday 22 February.
Attending regular outpatient appointments arranged by the hospital does not prevent conditions or symptoms returning or result in a shorter recovery period. Many people find that routine follow up visits to the hospital cause unnecessary stress and anxiety. symptoms, within a specified timeframe. This prevents them having regular review appointments when they do not want or need them.
Key benefits of PIFU include: z Improved patient experience, as patients only attend when they need to, reducing unnecessary journeys and time wasted z Reduction in did not attend (DNA) rates, which releases these appointments for patients who do want/need to be seen z Release of capacity from follow ups to new patients z Clinical time used more effectively
When a patient is placed on a PIFU pathway, they can make an appointment to see the appropriate team if they have any concerns related to their specific condition or The project team would like to thank Dennis Kosuge for his commitment and ongoing support to implement this pilot to improve our patients’ experience. This has been a huge team approach and the following are just some of those involved – thank you:
z Orthopaedic surgeons z Orthopaedic operational team z Outpatients operational teams z Secretaries and administration z Outpatient bookers z Cosmic and Cosmic training z Quality First
Declarations of interest
Once the pilot has been evaluated, there are plans to roll out to other specialities.
If you would like more information about this pilot, please contact the Quality First team at paht.qualityfirst@ nhs.net.
Please be reminded that you are required to declare any interest, gift or hospitality received which may result in a conflict with or impact on your duties.
This is particularly relevant to those in a senior management role or with responsibility for the procurement of goods and services. This includes affiliations with private companies or external organisations, hospitality received from companies the Trust may be affiliated with and gifts from private companies, patients or patients’ families.
You must declare the offer, or receipt of any hospitality or gifts over the value of £50, regardless of whether this was accepted. The Trust’s Governance Manual is available on the intranet and contains full guidance for declarations on page 89. If you need to make a declaration, the relevant form is available on the intranet and should be completed, signed and returned to Becky Warwick, corporate governance officer, (becky.warwick@nhs.net).
