- Reference Number: HEY1542/2025
- Departments: Speech and Language
- Last Updated: 31 May 2025
Information for patients from Speech and Language – Head and Neck Service
Introduction
This leaflet has been produced to give you general information. Most of your questions should be answered by this leaflet. It is not intended to replace the discussion between you and your therapist but may act as a starting point for discussion. If after reading it you have any concerns or require further explanation, please discuss this with a member of the healthcare team caring for you.
What is a patient initiated follow up (PIFU) pathway?
A patient-initiated follow-up (PIFU) means that we will not routinely book you an appointment, instead we are putting you in control of making your own appointments at a time when you need them most, within a given timeframe.
How does PIFU work?
You will have been identified by your speech and language therapist that a PIFU pathway is suitable for you. You will then have access to the PIFU pathway for a period of time, which will be confirmed by your healthcare team. If you require an appointment within this time frame, you can contact the Speech Therapy department, explain that you are on a PIFU pathway and need to be seen. You will then be offered an appointment. This may be on the telephone or face-to-face.
When should I call for a PIFU?
You can call to make an appointment if you have,
- Questions about exercises provided by the speech therapist
- Increased coughing or choking when eating or drinking
- New onset chest infections or unexplained weight loss
- Increased levels of concern about your speech or swallowing
You can only initiate a PIFU appointment for the specific condition you were originally referred to the Speech Therapy service for.
When should I not use PIFU?
- If your concern is related to different condition
- If the specified time period has lapsed, please contact your GP.
- If you need urgent medical advice, you should contact your GP or NHS111.
What if I don’t need a PIFU follow up appointment?
You do not have to arrange an appointment if you feel it is not required. If you don’t contact us to book an appointment within the specified timeframe, the PIFU will expire, and you will be discharged back to the care of your GP. We will not contact you to book a PIFU appointment – it must be initiated by you.
Booking a PIFU follow up appointment:
You or your carer can make an appointment to see us if you have any concerns related to your specific condition until: Date: |
Further information:
- HUTH patient information leaflets: https://www.hey.nhs.uk/patient-leaflets
- Advice on modified texture diets: https://www.iddsi.org/resources/patient-handouts
- https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/head-and-neck-cancer
- Head and neck cancer charity https://oraclehnc.org.uk/
- Head and neck cancer support group https://theswallows.org.uk/
Should you require further advice on the issues contained in this leaflet, please do not hesitate to contact the Adult Speech and Language Therapy Head and Neck Cancer Team on tel: 01482 626700.
General Advice and Consent
Most of your questions should have been answered by this leaflet, but remember that this is only a starting point for discussion with the healthcare team.
Consent to treatment
Before any doctor, nurse or therapist examines or treats you, they must seek your consent or permission. In order to make a decision, you need to have information from health professionals about the treatment or investigation which is being offered to you. You should always ask them more questions if you do not understand or if you want more information.
The information you receive should be about your condition, the alternatives available to you, and whether it carries risks as well as the benefits. What is important is that your consent is genuine or valid. That means:
- you must be able to give your consent
- you must be given enough information to enable you to make a decision
- you must be acting under your own free will and not under the strong influence of another person
Information about you
We collect and use your information to provide you with care and treatment. As part of your care, information about you will be shared between members of a healthcare team, some of whom you may not meet. Your information may also be used to help train staff, to check the quality of our care, to manage and plan the health service, and to help with research. Wherever possible we use anonymous data.
We may pass on relevant information to other health organisations that provide you with care. All information is treated as strictly confidential and is not given to anyone who does not need it. If you have any concerns please ask your doctor, or the person caring for you.
Under the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018 we are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of any information we hold about you. For further information visit the following page: Confidential Information about You.
If you or your carer needs information about your health and wellbeing and about your care and treatment in a different format, such as large print, braille or audio, due to disability, impairment or sensory loss, please advise a member of staff and this can be arranged.
