Many patients with long term conditions, or following hospital treatment, are asked to meet with their clinical team regularly. However, this doesn't always need to be at set times (e.g. every three, six or 12months), but just when the patient needs support.

Patient initiated follow-up, also known as PIFU, gives you more control and flexibility over the timings of your follow up appointments. This service aims to reduce unnecessary visits to hospital. It allows you to arrange appointments, or for someone you care for only when you need them.  For example, you can get in touch with your clinical team when  you feel you need to get help with your condition or if your symptoms flare up.

Your clinician may discuss PIFU with you and if they think this is something that you may benefit from, they will offer this to you. Then if you are happy to we will add you to the PIFU appointment list..

PIFU is not a replacement for urgent medical advice. If you require urgent medical advice, you should contact your GP, NHS 111, your local walk in centre, or for life threatening emergencies, your local Emergency Department (A&E).

Easy read information

https://youtu.be/tO77G28LKBI

The clinician will explain to you what symptoms you should look out for when you are on the PIFU appointment list and agree how long you will be on it, as this is determined by your clinical condition.

You will be provided with details for how to get in touch if you are experiencing any symptoms.

You will be able to contact the service directly to make the appointment if you need it.

If you do get in touch with us, you may be triaged by a clinician to agree the best way forward for you, which may involve an appointment to see the clinician. This follow up may be at the hospital, or a telephone, or video appointment. 

If you do not need an appointment within the agreed time frame for your PIFU   pathway, depending on your condition, you may be discharged back to the care of your GP If you are discharged and need to see a specialist in the future, you will have to see your GP first for a new referral

It is quick and easy to make an appointment when you need one.

Please call the Contact Centre on 0344 811 8118 who will arrange an appointment with the clinician that you were previously seen by. For some departments the contact details may differ.  Please refer to the department list below for more information.

Please select the service for your condition from the list below.

When to get in touch?

If you are experiencing a flare up of your original symptoms

How to get in touch?

Call the Contact Centre on 0344 811 8118 who will arrange an appointment with the clinician that you were previously seen by.

When to get in touch?

If you have received surgical treatment:

  • Evidence of wound infection or deterioration
  • Redness
  • Swelling
  • Systemic complications (raised temperature)

If you have received non-surgical treatment:

  • Increase in size of lump or lesion
  • New lumps or bumps
  • Skin breakdown
  • Pain
  • Nipple discharge re-occurrence

How to get in touch?

Please contact the Breast Care Nurse Team or your clinician’s secretary on 0344 811 8111 who will arrange an appointment if that is required.

When to get in touch?

  • If the problem that you were seen for is not improving or is getting worse.  

How to get in touch?

Call the Contact Centre on 0344 811 8118 who will arrange an appointment with the clinician that you were previously seen by.

When to get in touch?

If you are experiencing a flare up of your original symptoms

How to get in touch?

Call the Contact Centre on 0344 811 8118 who will arrange an appointment with the clinician that you were previously seen by.

When to get in touch?

If you are experiencing a flare up of your original symptoms

How to get in touch?

Call the Contact Centre on 0344 811 8118 who will arrange an appointment with the clinician that you were previously seen by.

When to get in touch?

If you are experiencing a flare up of your original symptoms

How to get in touch?

Call the Contact Centre on 0344 811 8118 who will arrange an appointment with the clinician that you were previously seen by.

At your recent Parkinson’s clinic appointment your consultant will have had a discussion with you and decided that your condition was stable. This means that you do not require any further routine follow up appointments at this time.

If your symptoms become troublesome you will be able to arrange an appointment. At this ‘triage’ appointment, an experienced nurse specialist will identify the best place for you to be assessed.

This is called patient initiated follow up, or PIFU. Your PIFU plan applies to care under the Parkinson’s service only and you should continue to follow the existing treatment plans for any other conditions you may have.

When to get in touch

Your clinician will have discussed with you about things to look out for that would mean you should book an appointment. These include:

  • Increased tremor, stiffness and slowness of movement when your next tablets are due.
  • Poor balance, falls or dizziness.
  • Freezing when you are walking
  • Dyskinesia (additional, involuntary, wriggly movements)
  • Confusion
  • Hallucinations
  • Difficulties with swallowing
  • Difficulty controlling urges or compelling feelings to do things repeatedly (Impulse control disorder)

Your GP will be notified that you have been given a PIFU care plan and what that means for you.

If at any time you require urgent medical advice, you should contact NHS 111 or contact your GP.

In the event of an emergency or serious injury please call 999.


How to get in touch?

To book a triage appointment, contact 01912934167, Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm. At the weekend please leave a message and we will get back to you. A member of our specialist nursing team with then be in touch via telephone to triage your problem within 72 hours and will act accordingly.

The PIFU plan for this service runs on an annual basis. In line with our clinical guidance we need to see or speak to you at least once a year. At this point we will review how suitable PIFU is for you and decide to either continue or to resume clinician-initiated follow up.

More information

Nothing in Parkinson’s changes quickly. If you experience a sudden change please consider other causes, which include:

- Changes to medications

- Constipation

- Infections

- Stress and anxiety

- Dehydration

- Pain

- Sleep disruption

When to get in touch?

If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:

How to get in touch?

Call the Contact Centre on 0344 811 8118 who will liaise with the clinical team to agree the best way forward for you.

When to get in touch?

  • If you are experiencing a recurrence of original symptoms

How to get in touch?

Call the Contact Centre on 0344 811 8118 who will arrange an appointment with the clinician that you were previously seen by.

If you are on the Lung Cancer pathway, please contact the nurse specialists:  

North Tyneside General Hospital: 

0191 2934148

Wansbeck General Hospital & Hexham General Hospital:

01670 529444 / 01670 529303

Mesothelioma UK Nurse Specialist

Leah Taylor       01670 529211

When to get in touch?

  • If you are experiencing problems with your stoma such as:
    • Sore skin
    • Template check
    • Leaks
    • Alternative equipment
    • Bleeding on the edges of the stoma
    • Lumps around or on the stoma
    • Bulge behind the stoma

How to get in touch?

Call the Nurse Helpline on 0191 293 4284 who will be able to offer advice and arrange an appointment for you if necessary.

When to get in touch?

Following surgery:

 PIFU is intended to place you in control of your recovery. Many procedures are predictable and reliably deliver good outcomes such that routine review is not required. However, easy access back into the system to deal with any issues or allay any concerns must always be available.

Orthopaedic operations generally take several months to recover, and progress can be slow, particularly for knee replacement. Progress however should be gradual and progressive. You will have been provided with information about worrying complications to watch out for.  If you find your progress is stalled or you are concerned about any potential complications, then please contact us and we will organise the most appropriate action.

Following an outpatient appointment:

PIFU following an outpatient appointment is intended to place you, the patient, in control of your further appointments. Your consultant may, if you are suitable, place you on a PIFU pathway. This means that routine planned review is not required, but you have the option to book a further appointment if you feel your recovery or your condition is not going according to plan or expectations.

How to get in touch?

Call the Contact Centre on 0344 811 8118 who will arrange an appointment with the clinician that you were previously seen by.

When to get in touch?

If you are experiencing a flare up of your original symptoms

How to get in touch?

Call the Contact Centre on 0344 811 8118 who will arrange an appointment with the clinician that you were previously seen by.

When to get in touch?

If you are experiencing a flare up of your original symptoms

How to get in touch?

Call the Contact Centre on 0344 811 8118 who will arrange an appointment with the clinician that you were previously seen by.