British Thyroid Foundation

The British Thyroid Foundation (BTF) 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 as a helpful resource.[2]

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, who was involved with the British Thyroid Association, the BTF was established.[3]

The registered charity is based in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, UK. As of 2020, the BTF employs seven part-time employees and has a network of patient volunteers throughout the UK.[4]

Past and present patrons include Claire Rayner, Maria Aitken, Clare Balding, Jenny Pitman, Melissa Porter, and Gay Search.[5]

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. The BTF offers a medical query answering service[6] BTF News is the regular member newsletter featuring articles about thyroid research and treatment, patient stories and local group activities.[7]

The Cancer Project of the BTF has a goal 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.[8][9] The Children's Project aims to help parents and carers find information and support about their children's condition, the BTF produces resources and holds regular information events for families.[10][11] The Thyroid in Pregnancy program aims to educate patients, medical professionals and the general public with current research-based information about thyroid disease in pregnancy. In 2018 the ‘BTF Thyroid disorders and pregnancy' information prescription tools were adopted by EMIS Health. Originally developed by Anh Tran, the tools aim to help patients and clinicians better understand the importance of managing thyroid function during conception and pregnancy.[12]

• British Thyroid Foundation