Follow-up and planned review pathways

Follow-up and planned review pathways are used when the practice record already specifies the next step. The request may come from a clinician's instruction, a recall system, a medication review date, a long-term condition review or another planned check.

These bookings go wrong when staff do not verify the instruction. A follow-up may require a specific clinician or role, a particular timeframe and mode, tests or results first, a longer slot or linked administrative tasks.

Before booking a follow-up

• Who requested the follow-up?
• What timeframe was specified?
• Which clinician or role is needed?
• Does the appointment need to be face to face, telephone, video or online?
• Are tests, forms, results or observations needed first?
• Has the patient been told what the appointment is for?

A planned review is only safe if the booking matches the clinical or recall instruction, not just the patient's preferred date.

Recall and Review Systems