FAQs

What does PIFU mean?

PIFU means Patient Initiated Follow-Up.

PIFU gives patients and their carers the flexibility to arrange their follow-up appointments as and when they need them, based on their symptoms and individual circumstances. It gives you the control of your follow up if appointment rather than us booking you in for one routinely. 

Why would I be offered the option of a PIFU?

You will be offered the option of a PIFU if both the physiotherapist and you think that you do not require a follow up appointment arranging automatically.

This might be because:

- you are happy with the treatment & self-management advice your physiotherapist has given and that you feel able and confident in managing your problem yourself.

- your symptoms are already improving well and are likely to resolve in due course without the need for a physiotherapy follow up review. 

I would prefer to have a follow up appointment booked so that I know exactly what time & date I need to attend.

This is ok, you can have a follow up appointment if you feel you need one.

If your symptoms do not seem to be improving as much as we would expect them to do so, at your appointment we would automatically arrange to see you again in clinic and will provide you with a time and date to suit you.

 How long does a PIFU last for?

 A PIFU can last from 6 – 12 months, this will be discussed and confirmed by your physiotherapist.

 What do I do if I want to use my PIFU?

Using your PIFU means that you wish to arrange a follow up with your physiotherapist.

Please contact the MSK Physiotherapy service on: 01904 725390

Can I have a telephone follow up with my PIFU?

Yes. A telephone review is really helpful if you just want some simple advice & guidance, reassurance or some more exercise ideas to help you to continue to self manage.

Contact us and please state to our admin team that you have a PIFU and you would like to arrange a TELEPHONE review with your physiotherapist.

 However, if you feel you need a further assessment of your MSK injury (or problem) because it has worsened or you are not coping with being able to self-manage, then a telephone follow up might not be as helpful and instead we advise that you see us in person.

In this case please contact us and state to our admin team that you have a PIFU and you would like to arrange a Face to Face review with your physiotherapist

 Can I use my PIFU if I have a different MSK problem to the one I was originally referred for?.

No. If you have a different MSK problem to the one you were initially referred and seen for, you cannot use your PIFU for this reason.

Instead, you will need to either complete a new ‘self-referral’ form or speak to your GP.

For example, if your Physiotherapist has seen you for a knee complaint, you cannot use your PIFU to then ask your physiotherapist to see you about a shoulder complaint.

How many times can I use my PIFU?

You can use a PIFU as many times as is necessary for us to help you manage your MSK injury (or problem).

If you do need to use your PIFU, then it will be automatically re-instated to the original time frame, i.e 6 months.

 Remember, as physiotherapists we want to help you to be able to self-manage your MSK problem as well as you possibly can.

We want you to have the reassurance of having us available for you as a safety net should your symptoms take a turn for the worse which can and does sometimes happen.

We also want to give you the skills and confidence to be able to manage your MSK condition yourself.

We understand this can take time and we are therefore more than happy to support you on your journey.