During your child’s appointment with their doctor, you may have discussed and agreed that regular routine follow-up appointments are not required to manage their condition and that Patient Initiated Follow-Up is the best way to help you seek further care and treatment for your child when they need it.
If your hospital care team think that Patient Initiated Follow-Up might be suitable, they will discuss this with you. If you agree then you will be placed on a Patient Initiated Follow-Up plan.
This means you no longer receive regular follow-up appointments, and you will need to contact the service if you feel that an appointment is needed.
This leaflet will help you to understand what Patient Initiated Follow-Up appointments are. You might hear them also being called PIFU for short.
How do I arrange a PIFU appointment?
You can arrange a PIFU appointment for your child within the agreed period of time that was discussed with yourself and the doctor during your appointment, this is usually within 3, 6 or 12 months from the date it was agreed. The doctor will confirm this with you.
If your child has not needed an appointment within this time, they will be discharged from our service. If you require an appointment after this time, you will need to discuss this with your GP.
The doctor will talk to you about when to make a PIFU appointment and when to seek help from other services such as your GP or the emergency department.
You can only access PIFU appointments if you are worried about your child’s current short- or long-term health condition and not a new concern you may have for your child.
Please use your mobile phone or the link below to watch a short video clip about PIFU or type the address into a web browser.
Patient initiated follow-up appointment video
What are the advantages?
- You will not need to make any unnecessary journeys to the hospital.
- You will only have an appointment made if you feel you need one for your child.
- You have more control over your child’s care.
- Shorter waiting times.
How do I book an appointment?
If your child experiences a flare up of their condition, their symptoms worsen or they do not recover as expected you can call us to make an appointment to see your child’s doctor.
Some patients may receive a text message from an appointment booking system called DrDoctor. Please use the DrDoctor portal to request a PIFU appointment if you have this option available to you or call the number on your PIFU letter and ask for a PIFU appointment when speaking to a member of our team.
You will then be given an appointment with your child’s doctor at the earliest opportunity.
PIFU appointments can only be arranged if it is within the agreed timescales set with you and your child’s doctor, if you require an appointment after this date, please contact your GP.
What if I am worried about my child?
If you have any worries or concerns, you should contact your GP during normal surgery hours. Outside surgery hours, you should contact your GP’s surgery for the Out of Hours Service number.
Contact Numbers
If you need further advice, or have any problems, please contact the appropriate number below:
James Cook University Hospital
Children’s Outpatients
Telephone: 01642 850850 or Ext. 58709
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
Email: [email protected]
Friarage Hospital Northallerton
Children’s Outpatients
Telephone: 01609 763910
Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm
Email: [email protected]
If you have any worries or concerns, you should contact your GP during normal surgery hours. Outside surgery hours, you should contact your GP’s surgery for the Out of Hours Service number.
Information for Patients
This leaflet can be made available in other formats including Large Prints, CDs, Braille and in languages other than English upon request.
Patient Experience Team (PET)
South Tees Hospital Foundation Trust would like your feedback. If you would like to share your experience about your care and treatment or on behalf of a patient, please contact The Patient Experience Team who will help you to do this.
This service is based at James Cook University Hospital but also The Friarage Hospital in Northallerton, our community hospitals and community health services.
South Tees Hospital Foundation Trust
Telephone: 01642 854807
Freephone: 0800 0282451
Email: [email protected]
Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm
Out of hours if you wish to speak to a senior member of Trust staff, please contact the hospital switchboard (numbers below).
The James Cook University Hospital
Marton Road
Middlesbrough
TS4 3BW
Telephone: 01642 850850
The Friarage Hospital
Northallerton
North Yorkshire
DL6 1JG
Telephone: 01609 779911