A special occasion took place on Saturday 11th March 2017 to mark a generous bequest to the Robinson Hospital – a bequest from the estate, and in memory of, the late Dr’s. Wilbur and Margaret Temple of Coleraine. The Temple has given the sum of £20,000 in a generous token and asked the Robinson Board to use the money in whatever way they might see fit to benefit the Community using the facilities of the hospital. After discussion with the Northern Health and Social Care Trust it was decided to build and equip a room beside what had been the old operating theatre in the Maternity Wing. The new room will be used by the Hospital Diversion Nursing Team (HDNT) as a day facility for patients from the North Antrim and Causeway Coast and Glens districts.
The nursing team take referrals from Hospital Specialists, A&E, and GP’s. Patients can be seen in their own homes or in this new Hospital Facility where they can be given treatments such as blood transfusions, IV fluids, and IV antibiotics. The facility will be available from 8.45am to 10.45 pm each day and in the evening District Nurses can refer patients with problems with catheters or syringe drivers etc.
There was a wonderful atmosphere of celebration on Saturday 11th March when the Official opening of the new room was declared with the family of the next generation of the Temple family present.
Dr Mark Temple (Consultant Renal Physician in Birmingham) and his wife Professor Una Temple, together with Mark’s sister Dr Celia Temple (G.P. in Edinburgh) and also Dr Mark’s two children Laura and Robert, were greeted by those present which included members of the NHSCT and the Robinson Trust together with some friends and colleagues of the late Dr’s Wilbur and Margaret Temple.
There was a short opening ceremony with the family and then the gathering repaired to the Tweed room where David Robinson, President of the Robinson Board, introduced Dr Mark Temple who spoke of his family’s pleasure and approval of the use that had been made of the bequest. He referred to his dad and how at the start of hostilities of WW2 he joined the RAMC as a Captain and saw active service in North Africa and then in the Landings at Salerno in Italy. After the War he became the single handed Medical Consultant at the Bannview and Ratheane Hospitals in Coleraine and also at the Route Hospital in Ballymoney and frequently was asked for his specialist opinion in the Robinson Hospital here in Ballymoney .
Dr Margaret Temple had managed a Specialist Ophthalmic Clinic for children for many years, every Monday, in the Ballymoney Health Centre and it was appreciated that her personal secretary, Mrs. Elizabeth Morrison, who had worked so closely with her, was able to be present for this occasion. Equally it was a fitting tribute to Dr Margaret Temple's memory that her old Medical colleagues, Dr William (Bill) Logan and Dr Rosemary Tan were able to attend and remember Dr Margaret with such affection.
Following Dr Mark's remarks, the deputy Mayor for Causeway Coast and Glens Council, Mr James McCorkell paid a glowing tribute to the Temple family for their generous bequest to the Hospital.
An equally fitting response was made by the Executive director for Finance in the NHSCT, Mr. Owen Harkin, and in a similar vein Mrs. Pamela Craig, (Assistant Director and Divisional lead Nurse for Community Care) spoke outlining the functions of the new Day Room and how already, some 80 out patients a month had been treated in the Unit. She introduced Sister Catherine Skeet who is the Hospital Diversion Team Coordinator and Sister Edith McCreedy of the Robinson Hospital Diversion Team.
Following that there were some personal and anecdotal reflections of Dr Wilbur and Dr Margaret given by the retired GPs Dr John Johnston and Dr Robert Barr, and then an overall humorous appreciation given by Mr Hugh Clarke (Vice President of the Robinson Board). The proceedings were drawn to a close by President David Robinson followed by a light lunch.
This was a fitting and gracious occasion to mark the generous contribution of an outstanding family who had in their lifetime contributed so much to the Health of our Community in Coleraine and Ballymoney and indeed so widely further afield. They have left a memory so fondly appreciated and so fitting recalled on a beautiful day in North Antrim – a memory now permanently enshrined in the Robinson Hospital.

The Health Minister, Edwin Poots has paid a visit to the Robinson Memorial Hospital to see first hand how the Northern Trust, local GPs and the Robinson Memorial Hospital Trust an Board work together to provide services to patients in the Ballymoney area.

During his visit the Minister spoke with in-patients to hear first hand about the care they were receiving. He also heard from Dr Shauna Fannin, Chair of the Robinson GP Committee, on how the hospital provides 25 NHS beds for the community. Patients who require less intensive management than would be provided in Causeway Hospital can receive “step up” care in the hospital -with medical care from their own GP, nursing care, and multidisciplinary support to help them recover from illness and return home. Patients who have received care in Causeway hospital or in other hospitals and who need further rehabilitation can receive “step down” care in the Robinson, again under the care of their GP. Beds are also reserved for patients who are recovering from fractures or orthopaedic surgery. The Minister was told that a very  important focus of the hospital is providing palliative care for patients who are near the end of life. While patients are cared for by their own GP, they are also attended to by Macmillan Specialist Nurses and by the Palliative Care Consultant as required. The appreciation of the local community for the unique service that the Robinson Hospital provides was emphasised to the Minister by Mr David Robinson Chairman of the Robinson Board of Trustees.

The Minister took time to visit the Day Hospice and spoke to patients and staff. He also visited different departments within the hospital and spoke to Physiotherapy Head of Service Karen McMaster and her team.
Health Minister, Edwin Poots said; "I was very impressed with the range of facilities and services here at the Robinson Memorial Hospital. The Hospital provides a Child Development Centre, Community Physiotherapy Department, NI Hospice Nurse Specialists, Community Dietician and Parkinson’s Specialist Nurse. I have no doubt that this facility gives a wonderful service to the local community and I would like to thank all the staff here for their hard work and dedication."
The visit provided the Minister with the opportunity to meet with Northern Trust staff, members of the Robinson Trust Board and local GPs.