Urgent funding needed for Groote Schuur’s emergency centre equipment

Construction at Groote Schuur Hospital’s (GSH) long-awaited new emergency centre project is well underway and marks a major milestone in ensuring a continuation of providing world-class emergency care to the people of the Western Cape.

While government funding covers the bricks and mortar for GSH, the Western Cape’s leading tertiary academic hospital, the critical equipment needed to save lives from day one remains unfunded.

GSH CEO Dr Shaheem de Vries said: “The first phase began in 2023 with enabling works and preparatory construction. We are now in phase two, which involves building the trauma and non-trauma areas of the centre. Completion of this phase is expected by February 2026, after which the centre will be fitted out and commissioned for use.”

The new emergency centre is being built on the site of the old ambulance trauma deck, right next to the existing emergency unit.

“The current trauma area will be repurposed into a dedicated radiology unit for emergency patients, while the non-trauma side will be redeveloped as a referral centre for specialist disciplines. This is not just a refurbishment but a completely new, purpose-built facility designed to meet modern demands,” he said.

GSH is one of South Africa’s busiest emergency referral centres, managing one of the highest trauma burdens in the world. Road accidents alone account for 20 to 30% of admissions. In 2023, the hospital conducted more than 4 500 emergency surgeries.

“The centre has been designed to optimise patient flow, improve working conditions and meet the demands of a growing patient population. 

“While the build itself has created construction jobs, staffing of the new facility will primarily be managed by our existing team of highly skilled emergency doctors, nurses and allied health professionals. 

“There may be opportunities for additional posts as the Centre scales up, but our priority is to equip and support the dedicated staff we already have so they can deliver care at the highest possible standard,” said Dr de Vries.

The hospital has appealed to investment partners to help fund the procurement of essential emergency equipment and infrastructure. Contributions may be once-off gifts or multi-year investments aligned with the hospital’s phased expansion, which includes a dedicated trauma-focused radiology wing due by 2027/2028.

Dr de Vries said Groote Schuur Hospital officially opened in 1938.

“For more than 85 years, it has been a centre of excellence in healthcare, training and research. It remains one of South Africa’s most iconic hospitals, known internationally as the site of the world’s first heart transplant in 1967,” he said.

GSH treats more than 50 000 inpatients and half a million outpatients annually, with trauma cases surging on weekends and public holidays. The hospital’s emergency-to-elective surgery ratio is already six times higher than that of high-income countries - a stark reflection of South Africa’s urgent need for better access to emergency care.

High-priority equipment for the new Groote Schuur emergency centre includes a whole-body x-ray imaging, resuscitation beds, mobile ventilators, mobile digital x-ray machines, stretchers and many more necessary equipment to help treat patients.

The call to action is clear: when the doors of the new emergency centre open in 2026, they must open to a fully equipped facility capable of saving lives from day one.

If you want to partner with GSH or for more information, contact Kristy Evans at 073 406 7920 or email kristy.evans@gshtrust.co.za or visit www.gshtrust.co.za