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 just when the patient needs them. 

That’s why UCLH has launched “patient-initiated follow-up” appointments (PIFU for short). This type of appointment allows you to arrange a follow-up appointment for you, or someone you care for, only when you need it. 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 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.

Please note that your care is, and always will be our top priority and this will not affect you in a detrimental way.

Once the healthcare professional responsible for your care adds your name to the PIFU appointment list, you will be able to contact the service directly to arrange a follow-up appointment only when you feel you need it.  Your healthcare professional will tell you what symptoms or complications to look out for that would indicate you should make an appointment. This follow-up may be at the hospital, or a telephone/video appointment. Your healthcare professional will discuss this with you nearer the time.

You will be told how long you will be on the PIFU list, as this will be determined by your clinical condition. If you do not need an appointment within this specified time period, you will be discharged from the service and you will need to contact your GP or referring clinician to be seen again by the clinical team.

It is quick and easy to book a PIFU appointment when you need one. You can either:

  • Contact your clinical team at the details in your appointment letter or After Visit summary.
  • Use the MyCare UCLH patient portal (please see below for information on getting in touch with us that way).

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

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 list.
  • contact us within the timeframe advised by your healthcare professional.

If you have agreed with your healthcare professional that PIFU is appropriate for you and you have signed up to MyCare UCLH, you can:

  • View information about your PIFU appointments from the Upcoming Tests and Procedures option of the main menu.
  • Find information about the specific symptoms or complications after treatment to look out for that would indicate you should make an appointment.
  • View the After Visit Summary from that visit in the Appointments screen, or your Clinic Letter from the Letters option of the main menu. These will allow you to view further details about your PIFU such as the contact number you should phone.

To activate your PIFU you can phone the contact number listed in the PIFU section of the After Visit Summary or your Clinic Letter. Alternatively, you can send a message to the clinical team who has discussed PIFU with you.

To do this from MyCare UCLH:

  1. Go to: “Messaging”
  2. Select: “Ask a Question”
  3. Choose the appropriate clinical team from the options provided (e.g. if your PIFU order was placed by the ENT: General specialty you would select “ENT: General team”).
  4. Select the message subject: “Visit Follow Up Question”.
  5. Enter the details of why you would like to activate your PIFU such as a change or worsening of your symptoms or condition.
  6. Click “Send”.

Your message will then be sent to the relevant team at UCLH for scheduling.

If you are not signed up to MyCare UCLH, speak to your clinical team about getting access.