Patient Initiated Follow Up - Patient Information Leaflet

Patient Initiated Follow Up (PIFU)

What is a Patient Initiated Follow Up?

Patient Initiated Follow Up (PIFU) puts you in control of making an appointment when you need it and provides you with direct access to guidance related to your care when you need it. The majority of patients with stable long term-conditions do not require regular follow ups with their clinicians. Research has shown that regular visits do not help to prevent conditions returning or identify new problems .

Instead of being offered regular clinic visits and routine follow-up appointments with your clinician, patients on a PIFU pathway can make their own appointment when they believe they need it, eg when you experience a flare-up of your condition. This means that PIFU helps to reduce the unnecessary anxiety, travel and time spent waiting for a routine follow up.

How does it work?

Following your appointment, if your clinician believes you are suitable, they will discuss putting you on the PIFU pathway. This means that instead of being given a routine follow up appointment, you will be able to arrange a follow up appointment when you need it.

Your clinician will discuss the process with you and your suitability for PIFU. They will also advise on any symptoms that you need to watch out for or the circumstances for which you should make an appointment.

Patient Initiated Follow Up (PIFU)

What will you need to do to book an appointment?

After being placed on the PIFU pathway, in order to book a follow up appointment, you will need to email our Care Co-Ordination Centre on provide.askus@nhs.net and include the following information:

Your full name

Your NHS number

Your address

The service you require (eg Physiotherapy, ENT, Diabetes)

You will then receive a link via SMS or email from the Care Co-Ordination Centre asking you to book your PIFU follow up appointment online.

Once you receive the link you will be able to look through the upcoming free appointments and book one that works for you.

Alternatively, you can call the Care Co-Ordination Centre on 0300 131 0111

When not to use PIFU

If you require urgent medical advice, you should contact your GP or NHS 111, or if you are really unwell, your local Emergency Department (A&E). For all other concerns, or if you are feeling unwell, your GP remains your first point of contact.