According to the Bank’s website, the project entails the strategic investment plans of the Rijnstate Hospital, aimed at optimising its healthcare infrastructure, service delivery and energy efficiency at its main location in Arnhem.

Background:
Stichting Rijnstate is a top-clinical teaching hospital in the province of Gelderland, in the Netherlands. It operates three locations in the region of Arnhem (Arnhem, Zevenaar and Elst). The hospital serves a population of about 433,000 people, provides about 725 inpatient beds and offers a total of 28 medical specialities including one of the largest pain management centres in the Netherlands. With about 6,600 people (4,100 FTEs), Rijnstate is the area's largest employer and one of the largest healthcare providers in the Netherlands.

The promoter faces the typical challenges of EU's health sector including a constant shortage of qualified staff, tightening budget constraints and a gradually increasing demand for care by an ageing population. To tackle these issues, Rijnstate has embarked a major investment programme (2024-2030) to adapt the existing facilities to the current medical requirements whilst increasing service quality and overall efficiency at its main location in Arnhem. Such programme also intends to significantly increase environmental sustainability in the first step (until 2030) and move to a completely carbon-free hospital at a later stage (by 2050), minimising the requirements of fossil fuels.

The project aims to finance the extension and rehabilitation (about 55 000 to 60 000 m2) of the existing main campus in Arnhem including the entrance hall, outdoor areas, offices, laboratories, radiology, clinics and academic areas. In addition, various measures are going to be implemented throughout the campus to improve the energy efficiency as well as to prepare for the move from gas-fired boilers to heat pumps using geothermal power.

Hospitals are not explicitly mentioned in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive 2011/92/EU as amended by 2014/52/EU, though the project is covered by Annex II of the Directive concerning urban development. According to the Bank’s website, it is expected that the project will bear comprehensive benefits to the community, as healthcare is an element of social cohesion and economic development.

Stichting Rijnstate / Rijnstate Hospital is a top-clinical teaching hospital in the province of Gelderland, in the Netherlands. It operates three locations in the region of Arnhem (Arnhem, Zevenaar and Elst).

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