Patient initiated follow up (PIFU)

Your child has been moved to Patient initiated follow up (PIFU), as we are confident that their condition is now stable.

We have sent you a clinic letter containing specific signs and symptoms that you need to look out for – these are tailored to your child and their condition.

If you think your child is experiencing any of these signs, please contact us to arrange a PIFU appointment.

PIFU is designed for patients who no longer require regular outpatient appointments. It is designed to offer a more flexible and patient-centred approach. Rather than asking you to attend routine appointments that you might not need, it allows you to access and arrange appointments when you actually need them.

Your child will be on PIFU for a set time – this is usually for up to two years at GOSH.

This means you can request a PIFU appointment during this time.

We have sent you a list of signs and symptoms you need to look out for. If you notice any of these signs or symptoms, please contact your GOSH speciality team to arrange an appointment, contact details can be found on your clinic letter.

PIFU is not an emergency service. In the event of an emergency, you should always call NHS 111 or attend your nearest A&E

At every PIFU appointment, we will assess whether PIFU is still appropriate for your child. Some children may return back to routine outpatient follow up, some may remain on PIFU, or some may be able to be safely discharged.

After the set PIFU time period has passed, your child will be discharged from GOSH. If they need our services again in the future, they will need to be re-referred by local services.

We would value your feedback on your experience of PIFU. Your feedback will help us understand how we can improve PIFU for other patients.

All responses are anonymous.

Tell us about your PIFU experience.