NHS England identified Patient Initiated Follow Up (PIFU) as part of NHS COVID-19 recovery, in line with the personalised-care agenda. We aimed to assess how the introduction of PIFU for neurology patients at Croydon University Hospital (CUH) has impacted patient outcomes, capacity and non-elective admissions.

Data were extracted from electronic records on all patients booked into a CUH neurology PIFU appoint- ment from 1st June to 29th October 2021. Data were collected on the number of admissions or outpatient attendances for 5 years pre-PIFU appointment and compared with 0-6 months post-PIFU.

355 patients had a PIFU appointment at CUH neurology between 1st June and 29th October 2021. The most common neurological conditions prompting a PIFU appointment were epilepsy (40%), multiple sclerosis (22%) and Parkinson’s disease (12%). The average number of outpatient appointments reduced from 11.0 pre-PIFU to 1.5 post-PIFU. The average number of ED attendances reduced from 3.1 pre-PIFU to 0.4 post-PIFU.

Although there are significant limitations in this study (inadequate time since appointment, the pandemic), we remain keen on PIFU and had been running an advice line service before it was labelled as PIFU. Further follow-up data and patient satisfaction data is needed.