Spaarne Gasthuis puts line through new building

The Spaarne Gasthuis chooses to accelerate the concentration of its care at two core locations: Haarlem Zuid and Hoofddorp. One of these locations will house all acute care as well as all care requiring an overnight stay. The other location will be a day hospital. Both Haarlem Zuid and Hoofddorp will hold outpatient clinics. In the coming period, the distribution of care among the locations will be determined. In 2028, the hospital wants to have realized the accelerated concentration. With this course the Spaarne Gasthuis will keep 24/7 hospital care in the region affordable, accessible and of good quality in the future.

Chairman of the board, Leon Aarts, explains what this means in a video message.

Recently, the hospital has carefully reviewed its existing real estate plans against current developments in healthcare. The demand for care is rising sharply and the labor market remains tight. As a result, the accessibility of care is under pressure. This makes it necessary to concentrate care in the shorter term. Teams that are now often spread across different locations can then work together more pleasantly and efficiently. In this way, the hospital can help more patients with the same number of employees. 

Continued investment in care innovation, digitization and good working conditions is important to keep the quality of care high. In addition, we are dealing with the recent price increases. As a result, the previously planned new building in Haarlem Zuid has become unaffordable. It was therefore decided to make as much use as possible of the existing buildings in Haarlem Zuid and Hoofddorp. 

The Haarlem Noord location will retain a healthcare function. The hospital is investigating the interpretation of this function together with partners in the region, such as general practitioners and care for the elderly. Think, for example, of facilities for patients who no longer need to stay in the hospital but cannot yet go home.

Leon Aarts, chairman of the board: "The 500,000 residents of our region must be able to count on us when they need us. An important and beautiful responsibility. With considerable challenges. Our healthcare professionals already experience these every day. With the accelerated concentration of hospital care at two core locations and new care concepts in Haarlem North, together with our healthcare partners, we are ensuring that people who need care can get it at the right place. This allows us to use each of our familiar locations in the best way possible." 

In the coming period, the hospital will further develop the plans. This will be done in dialogue with external and internal stakeholders. In 2025 it will become clear how care will be distributed among the locations. The ambition is then to have realized the changes by 2028.