Many patients with long term conditions, or following hospital treatment, do not need regular follow up appointments with our hospital team.
Instead, some of our patients will be offered 'patient initiated follow up' appointments (PIFU for short). This is where you arrange a follow-up appointment as and when you need it, rather than at routine intervals. This means you avoid unnecessary appointments, saving you time, money and stress.
If PIFU is available and suitable for you, the healthcare professional responsible for your care will discuss this option with you and if you are happy, will add your name to the PIFU appointment list.
How it works
You will not be given a routine follow up appointment as you may have been in the past, instead you will need to contact your service directly to arrange an appointment if and when you need one.
The health care professional responsible for your care will tell you what symptoms or complications after treatment to look out for that would mean you should make an appointment. They will also provide you with the information you need on how to contact the service to arrange this if you need to.
You will be told how long you will be on the PIFU waiting list, this will depend on what you are being treated for. If you do not need an appointment within the specified time period, you will be discharged from the service and you will need to contact your GP. They will re-refer you if you need to be seen again.
How do I book an appointment?
It is quick and easy to book an appointment when you need one. To do so, you should contact the service using the contact details provided to you by the healthcare professional responsible for your care.
To arrange a PIFU appointment you must:
- Have agreed with the healthcare professional responsible for your care that PIFU is appropriate for you and have been given the relevant information confirming you are on the PIFU waiting list
- Contact us within the timeframe advised by your healthcare professional.
