The event was opened by the Mayor Councillor John Finlay who spoke of the affection in which the Robinson Hospital is held by the people of Ballymoney and the causeway area.

Of the magnificent work carried on in it and the need to protect its position within the Northern Health and Social Care Trust. Mr. David Robinson, President of the board of Trustees, replied thanking the Mayor for his kind words and generous hospitality in hosting the opening reception.

He thanked everyone for coming to support the hospital and those who had taken out life membership of the Robinson Memorial Hospital Association.

He urged people to tell family and friends of the association and the need to join and hence indicate support for the hospital and the work it does. The assembled members then adjourned for a buffet meal in the auditorium before the AGM which was held in the Shiels room.

At the AGM, the President welcomed everyone especially the Mayor, Councillor Connolly and his wife, Rev. Dr. Robert Coulter MLA and members of the Northern Health and Social Care Trust, Patrick Graham, Neil Guckian, Pamela Craig and Margaret Gordon.

Following this the Honorary Secretary, Mrs. Margaret Allison, presented her annual report. In it she reminded everyone of what goes on at the Robinson site including physiotherapy, podiatry, the health centre , the GP beds,orthogeriatric rehabilitation, intermediate care and palliative care.

She felt that if the government were committed to listening to “patient power” they need look no further than the donations given to the Palliative Care Unit in the hospital as an indication of the public support for its work.

The Robinson had reported a bed occupancy of 84% in the GP beds and 83% in the Orthopaedric Rehabilitation. The physiotherapy Department also had a very busy year with demand growing but no additional funding for staffing. It was reported that Patricia Armstrong had retired after 39 years in the NHS,28 of them spent in the Causeway Unit of Management.

The Child Development Centre based at the hospital is also increasingly busy, seeing 844 children last year,173 new patients and 400 under review. Group sessions have also been developed for Downs Syndrome patients in speech and language therapy .The multi-disciplinary clinic is central to the centres work with an increase in Autism Diagnostic Services.

The Health Centre now has over 17,000 patients registered and with an ever increasing mobile population this impacts on the workload.Dr. John Flynn retired during the year and was wished well in his new ventures.

It was reported that the treatment room carries out increased numbers of minor surgical procedures in an effort to cut waiting times at the local hospitals and also take the pressure of resources at secondary care level ie.hospital care.