What is patient-initiated follow-up?
Patient-initiated follow-up (sometimes referred to as PIFU) puts you in control of making an appointment when you feel you need it, instead of having to attend a follow-up appointment which has been set for you and you may not need. It means you can have direct access to support when you feel you need it.
How does it work?
After your physiotherapy clinic appointment, your clinician will tell you if your condition is suitable for patient-initiated follow-up instead of regular follow-up appointments. Managing your appointments in this way is completely optional and it is your choice to go ahead with patient-initiated follow-up or not. If you feel it is not suitable for you, you can continue to book a scheduled appointment.
The patient-initiated follow-up service offers you an 8-week period of open access to the MSK Physiotherapy service as you need it. If you have not contacted us by the time the 8 weeks has ended, you will be discharged from our service and will need to contact your GP to be referred back to us.
How do I book an appointment?
If you have seen your physiotherapist, they will send you a text message containing a unique link to a website where you can make your next appointment. Please be aware that this link will expire after 7 days if no appointment has been made.
You can book your appointment up to 8 weeks in advance. Using the link, you will be asked to provide your date of birth and then you will be see a selection of appointments which are available to book with your clinician. You can also email us at patientcontactcentre@nhft.nhs.uk or call 0330 555 6789 to book an appointment or if you need a new link.
What if there are no suitable appointments available for me?
If you don't immediately see a suitable appointment time, please try your link again later as new appointments may become available.
If your link no longer works because it has expired, please contact us by emailing patientcontactcentre@nhft.nhs.uk or calling 0330 555 6789 to ask for a new link or for help with rebooking your appointment.
How do I check my appointment?
If you follow the patient-initiated follow-up link you have been given and type in your date of birth, your appointment should be available for you to see.
If you are having problems seeing your appointment or accessing the link, please email us at patientcontactcentre@nhft.nhs.uk or call 0330 555 6789.
Why doesn't my link work?
Your link may have stopped working if it has expired because it is only valid for 7 days. To request a new link please email us at patientcontactcentre@nhft.nhs.uk or call 0330 555 6789.
How do I change or cancel an appointment?
You can cancel or change an appointment using the unique patient-initiated follow-up link you have been given.
You will see two options: 'Cancel appointment' and 'Rebook appointment'.
If you cancel an appointment, you will no longer be able to use this link and will need to contact us at patientcontactcentre@nhft.nhs.uk or 0330 555 6789 if you need another link or want to rebook.
Please note that you can only change your appointment using the link if the appointment date is more than 24 hours away. If your appointment date is within 24 hours of the appointment, you will need to contact us at patientcontactcentre@nhft.nhs.uk or 0330 555 6789 to cancel or rebook.
What happens if I miss my appointment?
If you do not attend your appointment, you may be discharged from the MSK Physiotherapy service. If you have any concerns, please contact us at patientcontactcentre@nhft.nhs.uk or 0330 555 6789 and we can explain what you need to do next.
Will I get a text reminder?
Yes, you will get a text message reminding you of your upcoming appointment.
When should I contact you for a patient-initiated follow-up appointment?
Once you have received your text message with your unique patient-initiated follow-up link, you will be able to book your appointment, either using the link or by contacting us at patientcontactcentre@nhft.nhs.uk or 0330 555 6789. You will have 8 weeks to make your appointment but you may need to request a new link in that time as the links expire every 7 days.
What if I don't need a follow-up appointment?
If you don't need a follow-up appointment, then you don't need to contact us. We will assume that you are better and a letter will be sent to your GP practice confirming you have been discharged from the MSK Physiotherapy service.
When is it not appropriate to use patient-initiated follow-up?
You should not use patient-initiated follow-up if you need urgent medical care or advice. Please contact your GP practice or use the NHS 111 service instead.
How long will I have to wait for my appointment?
You can book your patient-initiated follow-up appointment up to 8 weeks in advance, as long as your clinician has availability.
What happens when patient-initiated follow-up ends?
If we have not heard from you after 8 weeks, you will be discharged from our service. We will let your referrer know (your GP practice or your consultant) that you are on a patient-initiated follow-up pathway, and also when you have been discharged.
Can I come back after this?
If you have not contacted us within 8 weeks you will be discharged from our service and a new referral will be needed.
Can I give feedback on patient-initiated follow-up?
We are always grateful to receive feedback to help our service improve.
Complete our online feedback form
Email us
Call us: 0330 555 6789
