Patient Initiated Follow up Appointments (PIFU)

Patient Initiated Follow up Appointments

During your out-patient appointment, your healthcare professional will advise you (and your carer if relevant) on the next steps of your treatment.

Some patients will be offered a 'patient initiated follow up' appointment (PIFU for short). This type of appointment allows you to arrange a follow-up for yourself as and when you need it.

You can arrange an appointment for yourself based on your individual symptoms, and receive guidance when you need it. This is an alternative to a routine follow-up appointment which can be a source of stress and expense, and which you may not always find helpful unless you have a specific concern you wish to discuss with your healthcare professional.

How does it work?

If PIFU is suitable for you, your healthcare professional will discuss your condition with you (and your carer if relevant)  and add your name to the PIFU appointment list. Instead of being given routine follow-up clinic appointments, you will be able to contact the hospital directly to arrange a follow-up appointment if you feel you need it. 

Your healthcare professional will then advise on the symptoms you need to watch out for and give you a PIFU card so you know how to make an appointment.   

You will also be told how long you will stay on the PIFU waiting list as determined by your clinical condition. If you do not need to see the doctor or nurse about your condition within the specified period after your last appointment, you will be discharged back to your GP who will re-refer you if you need to be seen again in the future.

How do I book a follow-up appointment?

To book an appointment:

            call 01722 345543 (office hours)

or send an email to: centralbooking.salisbury@nhs.net

Ask for a “patient initiated follow-up appointment”.

Please note, to arrange a patient initiated follow-up appointment you must: 

• Have been told by your healthcare professional that this is appropriate for you.
• Contact us within the timeframe advised by your clinician.

What if I have lost my PIFU card?

If you have lost your PIFU card, please don’t worry. You can contact PALS on 01722 429044 or by email to sft.pals@nhs.net and they will send you a new one. 

For more information, please download the patient initiated follow up appointment leaflet.

Feedback about your experiences with PIFU

We should be very grateful if you would take the time to tell us your experiences of PIFU by clicking on this link https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/PIFU