25 Facts On Primrose
1. The Primrose Foundation was created through an appeal launched in 1995 by two surgeons and a radiologist who worked at (the then named) Derriford Hospital - Colin Teasdale, Roger Watkins and Pam Jones.
2. In 2020 the Primrose will celebrate their 25th Anniversary.
3. The Primrose appeal was originally started by a group of Breast surgeons & Radiologists who wanted to build a modern breast service where Radiology and Surgery all worked together to create a one-stop clinic.
4. The Primrose Breast Care Centre opened on 19th April 2001.
5. The Primrose foundation has donated over £1.2 million into local breast care services since it was first established.
6. The Primrose foundation were instrumental in installing a prone table with vacuum biopsy before almost every other unit in the country. Vacuum Biopsy is recognised as essential in units today, and we were 20 years ahead of our time!
7. The Primrose Foundation is dedicated to patients and staff, to make our Breast care service the very best it can be.
8. National Primrose day is on the 19th April, it is also our birthday.
9. The Primrose foundation support the whole of the breast care services at University Hospitals Plymouth, including: The Primrose Breast care centre, Radiotherapy, Oncology, Microbiology, Nuclear medicine, histopathology and all of the wards a patient may use whilst receiving treatment.
10. The Primrose Foundation cover the following areas: Plymouth, Ivybridge, Looe, Launceston, Callington, Saltash, Torpoint, Bude, Kingsbridge & Salcombe.
11. The Primrose Foundation also support the mobile breast screening service.
12. The Primrose foundation have funded the installation of three landlines, the purpose of these is so that the mobile screening services can be ran from a constant electrical supply instead of a generator- we continue to support this service and hope to fund for more landlines in the future throughout our catchment areas.
13. In 2019 the Primrose Foundation rebranded and updated their logo as part of their evolution.
14. The Primrose Foundation were instrumental in appointing and funding the first Oncology, cancer nurse specialist. The Primrose Foundation continue to support this post and future developmental posts.
15. The Primrose Foundation support all of the breast care staff by funding education & training.
16. The Primrose Foundation provide a free monthly coffee morning support groups and continue to work with other local support groups to offer patients support when its needed.
17. The Primrose Foundation first appeared on social media in 2018. We now have over 800 dedicated supporters following us on Facebook and Twitter.
18. In 2018 the Primrose Foundation purchased an additional ultrasound scanner which brought patient waiting time down significantly.
19. The Primrose Foundation fund for small comforts for patients visiting the Primrose Breast care centre such as monthly magazine subscriptions and refreshments.
20. In 2020 The Primrose Foundation launched their first ever e-newsletter which is filled with all the wonderful and latest news & events- its really simple to subscribe to, just visit https://www.primrosefoundation.org/ and click subscribe
21. In 2020 the Primrose Foundation donated £10,000 to the Plastic surgery team at University Hospitals Plymouth, this money was used as a bursary to support the newly appointed Breast reconstruction fellow post within the plastic surgery directorate.
22. The original appeal raised £500,000k which was a staggering amount at the time and still is today for such a small charity.
23. Around 28,500 men and women pass through The Primrose Centre doors each year.
24. The Primrose Foundation is ran by volunteers, Trustees and only one part time member of staff- This is so that we can put the money you have raised back into our breast care services.
25. The Primrose Foundation are your only breast care charity that is supported by local people, for local people.