Patient initiated follow-up appointments (PIFU)

NCL Wide

Many patients with long-term conditions, or following hospital treatment, are asked to meet with their clinical team regularly. However, those follow-up appointments don’t always need to be at routine intervals, but rather just when the patient needs them.

NCL providers have recognised this and have therefore set about to implement patient-initiated follow-up (PIFU) appointments. This type of appointment allows the patient to arrange a follow-up appointment for either themselves, or someone they care for, only when the appointment is needed. This is an alternative to a routine follow-up appointment, which can sometimes be inconvenient, stressful and an unnecessary expense.

If PIFU is available and suitable for a patient, the healthcare professional responsible for their care will discuss this option with the patient through a shared decision making process, and, if the patient is happy, the healthcare professional will add their name to the PIFU appointment list.

Once on the list, the healthcare professional will provide the patient with details on how to contact the service directly to arrange a follow-up appointment should the patient need it.

The healthcare professional will provide information on the symptoms or complications to look out for, how long the patient will be on the list for, and what will happen at the end of the time period.

How do patients book?

Patients can either:

  • contact the clinical team at the details in the appointment letter or After Visit summary
  • use the MyCare UCLH patient portal.

If patients are not able to find their appointment letter or After Visit Summary, they should contact the central Patient Booking Team on 020 3447 9393 and ask to be put through to the appointment booking team for their clinical team.

To arrange a PIFU appointment, patients must:

  • have agreed that PIFU is appropriate and have been given the relevant information confirming they are on the PIFU list
  • contact UCLH within the timeframe advised by the referring healthcare professional.

UCLH has a dedicated PIFU page for patient queries, containing advice on how to activate and use the MyCare portal.

How do patients book?

To book an appointment, patients should call or email the contact details written on their guide card and ask for a patient initiated follow-up appointment.

Please note, patients must:

  • have been given a personalised guide card  
  • contact us within the timeframe advised.

If a patient has lost their guide card, they should contact the out-patient appointment centre on 020 7443 9757 and ask to be put through to the appointment booking team for the relevant service.

If patients have any queries, RFL's patient-facing PIFU page summarises the process in more detail.

Please see Downloads for Moorfields' PIFU referrer update for February 2023.

How do patients book?

Patients should follow the link (from their introductory text or email) and indicate that they would like to initiate a follow up appointment. If they can’t find this text, they can access the DrDoctor patient portal.

Patients can also ring the number on their last patient letter for help.

For patient queries, Moorfields has created an online FAQ document.

How do patients book?

The patient can book a PIFU appointment by contacting the clinical team listed in their appointment letter or information leaflet.

If the patient is not able to find their appointment letter or information leaflet, they should call 0207 288 5511 and ask to be put through to the appointment booking team for the relevant clinical team.

For further patient guidance, please visit the PIFU page on Whittington Health's website.

How do patients book?

They should use the contact details on the appointment letter or those set out below to book an appointment:

When patients contact NMUH, they should state that they are on the PIFU pathway and provide the details below:

  • full name
  • date of birth
  • NHS/hospital number
  • name of clinic or service
  • outline of why the appointment is being requested.

To arrange a PIFU appointment, patients must:

  • have agreed that PIFU is appropriate and have been given the relevant information confirming they are on the PIFU list
  • contact UCLH within the timeframe advised by the referring healthcare professional.

For further patient guidance, please visit the PIFU page on NMUH's website.

If anything on this page is unclear or outdated, users should contact the GP Website team via the feedback button. The NCL GP liasions can also be contacted for provider-specific queries.

GP liaison contacts

Contact details for all NCL providers

Additionally, a PIFU FAQs document has been developed for primary care colleagues. See Downloads in the sidebar of this page.

Review date: Friday, 29 November 2024

Downloads

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PIFU FAQs for primary care

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Moorfields PIFU referrer update (February 2023)

Patient guidance