Patient initiated follow-up appointments - Dermatology

What is a patient initiated follow up (PIFU) appointment?

PIFU puts the patient in control. You can make an appointment to see us if you need to.

Why have they been set up?

• Research has shown that having a regular outpatient follow-up does not help prevent disease returning or identify any new problems, and many patients find that follow-up visits to the hospital cause a lot of anxiety.
• Outpatient clinics are increasingly full and some patients travel very long distances to attend clinics as part of a specialist service.
• In a recent survey, 25% of patients told NHS England that they didn’t feel their follow up appointment had been of value to them.
• We have therefore set up patient initiated follow-up appointments.
• These are designed to be more convenient for you and save you time and travel.

How do these appointments work?

• Instead of having a follow up appointment booked at a specific time in the future, your doctor/ nurse has ordered a patient initiated follow-up appointment for you.
• You will receive this in a letter sent to you by your clinical team.
• The PIFU order has an expiry date (eg 3 months, 6 months or 12 months). If you would like to have a follow up appointment within the timeframe set out in your PIFU appointment letter you will need to contact the hospital to book an appointment.

How do I get my PIFU Appointment?

• If you have a PIFU letter and would like to be seen by the specialty who sent it to you, you will need to contact the hospital to book the appointment.
• You will be offered an appointment when one is next available.

What if I don’t want a follow up appointment?

• You do not have to have a follow up appointment. If you would prefer not to have an appointment you do not need to do anything.
• If you do not contact us to book the PIFU, the order will simply expire.
• We will not contact you to book the PIFU appointment (it has to be activated by you).

Useful contact details

• For follow-up appointments: outpatient call handling team: 01223 806000.
• For new appointments: Contact centre: 01223 245151

Will I always be followed up in this manner?

• Not necessarily. If we need to see you so that we can undertake a clinical examination we will ask you to come to the clinic.
• In such instances we will arrange for you to attend a hospital outpatient appointment.