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The Chesterfield Royal Hospital Rheumatology team provide a diagnosis and treatment service for all rheumatological conditions and offers the following services and treatments:
- Injection clinics
- Paediatric clinics
- Day Case treatments
- Early arthritis clinic
- Nurse clinics for disease and drug monitoring
We accept referrals from GPs or any NHS provider who requires a rheumatological opinion for the following conditions:
- Rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory arthritis
- Systemic lupus erythematosus and other connective tissue diseases
- Gout
- Ankylosing spondylitis and inflammatory back pain
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteoporosis and other metabolic bone disorders
- Soft tissue rheumatism
What is Patient Initiated Follow Up (PIFU)
After your recent visit to the hospital, you have chosen to self-manage your condition with support from the hospital when you need it. This is called a ‘Patient Initiated Follow-up (PIFU) pathway.
Mid-PIFU is suitable for patients who cannot be discharged from hospital services, typically for long-term conditions. It gives the patient the choice of obtaining advice from the clinical team if they experience a flare up or wish to book an appointment.
How does PIFU work?
When your next review is due, we’ll send you a short health-based questionnaire to allow the clinician to evaluate your condition.
If your condition isn’t stable, or you feel you need to speak to us, we’ll book you an appointment. If your condition is stable, we will contact you to confirm everything is satisfactory. Then we will get in touch before your next appointment. Your next appointments could be by phone, video, or face to face.
Some PIFU pathways may include remote monitoring for example within prostrate or diabetes. Within cancer services PIFU can be known as Personalised Stratified Follow Up (PSFU)
When do I need to speak to you?
You or your carer can get in touch if you’re worried about your condition and feel you need to speak to us.
How do I get in touch?
Your clinic letter and this patient leaflet will tell you:
- How to get in touch.
- How to make an appointment.
- What number and who to call.
Key symptoms that trigger an appointment face-to-face or telephone review:
Pain
- Inflammation is present in the tissues around the joints and tendons. This form of pain can be quite severe and raw.
- Muscle or tendons shortening or tightening. This can cause a dull, achy ache.
- Protective muscle spasms. This pain can be intense and sharp.
Stiffness
- Muscles and tendons shortening and tightening.
Help guidelines for managing your condition are available from the National Axial Spondyloarthritis Society (NASS). https://
Health based questionnaire:
The hospital will ask you to complete a health-based questionnaire. It will be sent through to your smart device or email address. It’s safe and secure.
It will take about 5 minutes to complete. Please make sure the questionnaire is completed as soon as possible because the clinician will need this information to evaluate your condition.
Combined with filling out the health-based questionnaire, please make sure you complete your blood test.
Please contact the adviceline at the number below if you need a form.
You should not use your PIFU pathway if:
- You want to speak to someone about a different condition or symptoms.
- The agreed time for your PIFU pathway has ended.
Tell us what you think!
Providing feedback about your experience would be very appreciated, as it will enable us to better understand how we might make PIFU better for future patients.
Please complete the survey using the QR Code provided, or you can access it through the Rheumatology page on the Chesterfield Royal Hospital website
