A hospital that doesn’t feel like a hospital: the renovated Sint Maartenskliniek in Ubbergen

03 October 2024 - 

The new nursing ward of the Sint Maartenskliniek in Ubbergen is bright, green and pleasant. It doesn’t feel like a traditional hospital. This is the result of a thorough renovation. With this renovation, which was financed by BNG, the hospital is preparing for the care demands of the future.

‘Not everyone can just walk up or down stairs. The Sint Maartenskliniek offers care and support for those with mobility problems,’ says Tim Simmers, President of the Executive Board. The specialist hospital focuses entirely on movement. With wards for orthopaedics, rheumatology and rehabilitation medicine as well as a specialised pain treatment centre, the Sint Maartenskliniek treats patients with a variety of symptoms. Jeroen Mulder, Health Care Manager at BNG: ‘This is a remarkable hospital with a strong market position. Patients come here from all over the country.’

Growth over the years

The hospital was founded in 1936 and was expanded several times in the decades since. The building reflects these different stages of life, with part of it in need of renovation. Simmers: ‘Our nursing ward was 30 years old. We asked ourselves: does this ward still meet the care demands of today, let alone tomorrow?’ This question prompted a long-term accommodation plan and the recent renovations.

Within the existing footprint

The renovation of the hospital brought with it several challenges. As the building is located on a hill in a wooded area, the renovation had to stay within the boundaries of the existing footprint. In addition, the hospital had to be able to continue providing care throughout the renovation. This was successfully done. Despite these challenges, the renovation also offered opportunities. The hospital seized the opportunity to make the building more sustainable by installing heat pumps and solar panels and by giving part of the building back to nature. Mulder: ‘Sustainability is another increasingly important aspect of our financing considerations. This new building complies with the Paris Agreement.’

Healing environment

The result is a new, large, 52-bed orthopaedic nursing ward. In addition to a modern pain treatment centre and new radiology treatment rooms, much attention has been paid to creating a ‘healing environment’. This means that the ward is not only functional, but also offers an environment that doesn’t feel like a typical hospital. ‘The person-oriented set-up ensures that patients and their loved ones feel welcome and at as much ease as possible. The environment reflects the calm and attentiveness of the people who work here,’ says Simmers.

Critical sparring partner

The renovation was made possible by a loan from BNG. Simmers appreciates the partnership: ‘A good lender not only provides money, but is also a critical sparring partner. BNG fulfils both roles.’ Simmers believes that the Sint Maartenskliniek and BNG ultimately have the same goal: to spend public money in a socially responsible way. In addition to the hospital’s contribution to medical care, Simmers also emphasises its broader social contribution: ‘Being able to move makes you able to take part in social life. We help people regain that freedom of movement every day.’

behandelkamer maartenskliniek
The Netherlands
Map of the Netherlands
Financing
Stakeholders
More information

BNG Bank uses cookies for analytics and proper functioning of this website. Please confirm your cookie settings. Read more about our cookies and privacy statement.

BNG Bank places cookies for analytics and proper functioning of this website. Third-party cookies may also be placed. Therefore, we need your approval.