A special sight today: 34 patients made the crossing two hundred meters further today to the new hospital of Isala Diaconessenhuis Meppel. It may not sound that complicated, but it is. Because only three hospital beds fit in a moving van, so there was a whole series of moving vans ready.
The 56-year-old Cisca Westra from Vledderveen was the first patient to be moved. “It all went pretty smoothly. Even though it’s a truck, you didn’t notice it. It all went well, yes. I’m honored to be the first.”
Small is beautiful
With the move to the new building, the Diaconessenhuis, which served as a hospital for 85 years in Meppel and the surrounding area, will come to an end. The relocation operation took years.
The new building is a lot smaller than the old hospital. The area has been reduced from 40,000 square meters to 27,000 square meters. “But everything fits in it”, says transition director Mariska de Groot with a smile. “In the old hospital, for example, we had huge cellars for all patient files. In today’s digital age, that is not necessary.”
The new building will accommodate 61 examination rooms, 33 treatment rooms, 4 operating rooms, 12 dialysis places, 21 beds for day care, 10 beds in Special Care and 90 beds in the clinic.
In addition, the new building is the first hospital in the Netherlands that is completely gas-free. Four hundred solar panels and geothermal energy provide electricity and heat.
Out of bed
What is striking is that there are large windows everywhere in the hospital. “We are lucky that we are in a beautiful location, in the Reestdal. We want to bring the landscape inside with the glass, which reduces stress for many patients,” says Mariska de Groot.
De Groot is also fully committed to more exercise for patients: there are fitness machines in every department and an exercise garden outside. “If people lie in bed for a week, they lose one and a half kilos of muscle. More exercise means a shorter hospital stay and fewer complications.”
Westra is very happy with her new room. “So spacious. And a new bed. New bedding too. And the view is beautiful too. Although that was also the case at the old location. But this is a lot more comfortable. In the old building you almost fell out of bed,” laughs they.
high tech
Televisions have been banned from the rooms; a tablet has taken its place. Patients can also order food with this. There is no shortage of technical gadgets: you can listen to stories about the Reestdal with QR codes and there is a special acoustic chair in which you can retreat. “The chair is like a cocoon in which you can listen to music.”
After today the move is complete. The old Deaconnessehuis is empty and will be available for Ukrainian refugees. “There is room for 90 people,” says De Groot. “We leave beds, mattresses and more necessities there.” Refugees can go there from 1 April.