British Thyroid Foundation
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Abbreviation | BTF |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1991 |
| Legal status | Charity |
| Headquarters | Suite 12, One Sceptre House, Hornbeam Square North, Harrogate, HG2 8BP |
Region served | UK |
| Affiliations | British Thyroid Association |
| Staff | 6 |
| Volunteers | 20 |
| Website | BTF |
The British Thyroid Foundation (BTF) is a UK-based, patient-led, registered charity dedicated to supporting people with thyroid disorders and helping their families and people around them to understand the condition.[1]
The British Thyroid Foundation is a patient support organisation. The aims of the BTF are to help improve understanding of thyroid disease; represent the patient perspective to medical professionals; offer a peer support network and fund research into thyroid function and thyroid disease to improve patient outcomes.
The BTF is recognised by the British Thyroid Association,[2] the British Association of Endocrine and Thyroid Surgeons,[3] the British Society for Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes,[4] and the Society for Endocrinology[5] as a helpful resource. It is also listed as a carer centre and service by National Health Service (NHS) England.[6]
History
[7] The British Thyroid Foundation was founded in 1991 by Janis Hickey MBE after she was diagnosed with Graves and thyroid eye disease. With the encouragement of Sir Richard Bayliss KCVO,[8] who was involved with the British Thyroid Association, the BTF was set up as a registered charity[9] based in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, UK. Past and present patrons include, Clare Balding,[10] Jenny Pitman[11] and Gay Search.[12]
Activities
The British Thyroid Foundation provides a support network to thyroid patients through its local support groups, volunteer telephone contacts and closed Facebook groups, run by people with thyroid disease.[13] The BTF offers a medical query answering service. BTF News is the regular member newsletter featuring articles about thyroid research and treatment, patient stories and local group activities.[14]
