Primrose plans.
More than ever the Primrose Foundation will need your support in order that it can keep pace with the new technology and train staff in its use.

To keep the Primrose Centre at the cutting edge substantial funds must be raised every year. New procedures are constantly being developed. Technological advances are astonishing. Not only must the equipment be purchased and maintained but the staff must be trained in its use and in new procedures as they are introduced.

So what has Primrose Foundation committed to in the past year?

Special training for surgeons and
the breast care imaging team             £22,400
Specialist single use biopsy needles   £18,000
Equipment maintenance                    £21,000
New theatre equipment (minimum)  £25,000
New equipment with an emphasis
on patient comfort                                £7,000
Misc items                                              £3390
Education & Research                          £3000

During the past six months, in addition to the day to day expenses, Primrose has been focusing on fund raising for special items of equipment. Since January we have been working hard to raise £53,000 to buy a special x-ray machine which would considerably  reduce the time patients are under anaesthetic. With the support of the League of Friends of Derriford Hospital, and the NHS Trust the bulk of that sum will be raised by the end of the year and the equipment has been requisitioned.

Our next objective is to increase the funding available for…

Mammotome biopsy needles.

Biopsies are the way that we diagnose all breast cancers nowadays.  The use of the very best needles means that we more often get an answer that it is right first time and only much more rarely nowadays do we have to resort to surgery to get a final answer.   This means that women know what is going on much faster, but it does come at a price.     [Dr Jim Steel. Consultant Radiologist.]
The needles cost in the region of £170 each and are not re-usable!
Last year Primrose spent £18,000 and we hope to increase this to £25,000 this year.

Like everything else if you buy in bulk, the price per unit falls, so we are hoping to be able to help fund, with the NHS Trust, an annual bid for needles so that we can get as many needles as possible for our money.  

Drinking Water.
Patients, relatives and friends spend long periods in the waiting rooms and appreciate the occasional drink of cool water. One of the two water dispensers has just given up the ghost so we will soon have to find funds to buy another.  Our Boys Lodge of the Plymouth RAOB have donated £600 getting us off to a good start.

Donations in support of all Primrose activity is welcome.