In 2009, though the Dutch economy contracted significantly, the hospital sector did not. For the latter it was business as usual – greater production, a dramatic increase in revenue, increasing wages and more personnel. Recession or not, our need for healthcare was growing, possibilities for providing healthcare were increasing and we were still willing to pay for it. This would eventually lead to the current model becoming unaffordable, but in 2009 that was not yet the case and the hospital sector was helping to drive the economy.