British Thyroid Foundation
Encyclopedia
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.
Since setting up in 1991, BTF has worked with thyroid specialists from the British Thyroid Association (BTA), to ensure patients get up-to-date, medically evidenced based and reliable information. The BTA is a non-profit making learned society of professional clinical specialist doctors and scientists who look after patients with thyroid disorders and who carry out research into the thyroid.
Graves’ disease and thyroid eye disease. She realized there was a need for support for those with thyroid disease as did the late Sir Richard Bayliss KCVO who was involved with the British Thyroid Association (at the time known as The Thyroid Club), and who encouraged the establishment of the BTF.
British Thyroid Foundation was administered out of Mrs. Hickey’s home until 2001 when BTF
moved into their current location in Harrogate
, North Yorkshire, UK. Currently, BTF employs
four part-time employees and is aided by many volunteers all over the UK.
Past and present patrons include Claire Rayner
, Maria Aitken
, Clare Balding
, Jenny Pitman
, Melissa Porter
, Gay Search
, and Dr. W
Michael G Tunbridge.
through volunteers. BTF fields telephone and email questions usually by providing information
that is medically evidenced based. BTF News is the quarterly newsletter featuring articles about thyroid research and treatment, local group activities, and BTF national level news.
British Thyroid Foundation is represented at various medical conferences such as the British
Endocrine Society and the Royal College of General Practitioners
.
awareness on specific aspects of thyroid disease
.
nurses in an effort to support the medical community in providing the treatment for people with
thyroid disorders.
Thyroid
The thyroid gland or simply, the thyroid , in vertebrate anatomy, is one of the largest endocrine glands. The thyroid gland is found in the neck, below the thyroid cartilage...
disorders and helping their families and people around them to understand the condition.
Function
The Foundation is recognised by both patients and the medical profession.Since setting up in 1991, BTF has worked with thyroid specialists from the British Thyroid Association (BTA), to ensure patients get up-to-date, medically evidenced based and reliable information. The BTA is a non-profit making learned society of professional clinical specialist doctors and scientists who look after patients with thyroid disorders and who carry out research into the thyroid.
History
Janis Hickey, director, founded British Thyroid Foundation in 1991 after being diagnosed withGraves’ disease and thyroid eye disease. She realized there was a need for support for those with thyroid disease as did the late Sir Richard Bayliss KCVO who was involved with the British Thyroid Association (at the time known as The Thyroid Club), and who encouraged the establishment of the BTF.
British Thyroid Foundation was administered out of Mrs. Hickey’s home until 2001 when BTF
moved into their current location in Harrogate
Harrogate
Harrogate is a spa town in North Yorkshire, England. The town is a tourist destination and its visitor attractions include its spa waters, RHS Harlow Carr gardens, and Betty's Tea Rooms. From the town one can explore the nearby Yorkshire Dales national park. Harrogate originated in the 17th...
, North Yorkshire, UK. Currently, BTF employs
four part-time employees and is aided by many volunteers all over the UK.
Past and present patrons include Claire Rayner
Claire Rayner
Claire Berenice Rayner OBE was an English nurse, journalist, broadcaster and novelist, best known for her role for many years as an agony aunt.-Early life:...
, Maria Aitken
Maria Aitken
Maria Penelope Katharine Aitken is an English actress, writer, producer and director.Aitken was born in Dublin, the daughter of Sir William Aitken, a Conservative MP, and socialite Penelope Aitken, whose father was John Maffey, 1st Baron Rugby. She is a great-niece of newspaper magnate and...
, Clare Balding
Clare Balding
Clare Balding is a BBC sports presenter, journalist and jockey.-Early life:In 1989 and 1990, Balding was a leading amateur flat jockey and Champion Lady Rider in 1990....
, Jenny Pitman
Jenny Pitman
Jenny Pitman is a former British racehorse trainer and author. She became the first woman to train a Grand National winner, when Corbiere won the race in 1983. She went on to win a second Grand National with Royal Athlete in 1995...
, Melissa Porter
Melissa Porter
Melissa Porter is an English television presenter, best known for her BBC programmes, To Buy or Not to Buy and Escape to the Country.-Early life:...
, Gay Search
Gay Search
Gay Search is a British television presenter perhaps best known for her work on the BBC TV series Gardeners' World with the late Geoff Hamilton...
, and Dr. W
Michael G Tunbridge.
Activities
British Thyroid Foundation supports local support groups and provides telephone supportthrough volunteers. BTF fields telephone and email questions usually by providing information
that is medically evidenced based. BTF News is the quarterly newsletter featuring articles about thyroid research and treatment, local group activities, and BTF national level news.
British Thyroid Foundation is represented at various medical conferences such as the British
Endocrine Society and the Royal College of General Practitioners
Royal College of General Practitioners
The Royal College of General Practitioners is the professional body for general practitioners in the United Kingdom. The RCGP represents and supports GPs on key issues including licensing, education, training, research and clinical standards. It is the largest of the medical royal colleges, with...
.
Campaigns
BTF is committed to making a difference and improving the patient experience by focusingawareness on specific aspects of thyroid disease
Thyroid disease
-Hyper- and hypofunction:Imbalance in production of thyroid hormones arises from dysfunction of the thyroid gland itself, the pituitary gland, which produces thyroid-stimulating hormone , or the hypothalamus, which regulates the pituitary gland via thyrotropin-releasing hormone . Concentrations of...
.
Cancer Project
The goal is to provide information and support to thyroid cancer patients and to help improve treatment and care in collaboration with medical professionals and other cancer groups.Children’s Project
Because thyroid disorders are relatively uncommon in children, once they have left the doctor's office with a diagnosis many parents feel at a loss when questions arise about symptoms, treatment, care and future health. It is with this in mind that the BTF Children’s Project Group is writing a booklet especially for parents and carers of babies, children and young people with thyroid disease.Thyroid in Pregnancy
The Pregnancy Project team includes doctors, patients and an endocrine nurse working to increase awareness of the risks of thyroid in pregnancy. The goal is to educate the medical community and the general public with current research-based information about thyroid in pregnancy.Thyroid Eye Disease Project
Access of patients with thyroid eye disease to specialist centres and expertise varies widely. Working with the Thyroid Eye Disease Charitable Trust (TEDct), BTF’s aim is to implement the Amsterdam Declaration in the UK establishing pathways of referral and care: shortened referral times and ensuring access to the medical professional with the appropriate level of expertise, and high standards of treatment and care.Research Awards
Each year the British Thyroid Foundation provides a financial award to medical researchers andnurses in an effort to support the medical community in providing the treatment for people with
thyroid disorders.
Annual Medical Research Award
A one-year award of up to £10,000 is offered to enable medical researchers to supplement existing projects or for pump-priming existing research ideas. Funds are awarded for consumables, running costs and necessary items of equipment. Research must be directly related to the thyroid or thyroid disorders.Evelyn Ashley Smith Award for Nurses with an Interest in Thyroid Disorders
A monetary award is provided for nurses with an interest in thyroid disorders. The award is offered to- support training needs including conference attendance
- support a specific project lasting one year
- reward a piece of work already completed, but not yet published.
See also
- ThyroidThyroidThe thyroid gland or simply, the thyroid , in vertebrate anatomy, is one of the largest endocrine glands. The thyroid gland is found in the neck, below the thyroid cartilage...
- Thyroid in pregnancy
- British Association of Endocrine and Thyroid Surgeons