Groote Schuur gets a brand-new emergency centre next year, but there are some hurdles to get through first.
Cape Town, South Africa (08 September 2025) – Groote Schuur’s emergency unit has been bursting at the seams for years. The space is too small for the number of patients and the equipment has been pushed far beyond its lifespan.
Good Things readers will know that the Groote Schuur heroes have done amazing things in public health. Most recently, the hospital ran extra surgical lists throughout August to help women finally access tubal ligation procedures that, in some cases, have been delayed for years.
Before that, they went above and beyond the line of duty to clear a backlog of operations. 1500 of them to be exact.
And during the pandemic, they kept ventilators running. The life-saving unit absorbed the full weight of respiratory emergencies, and machines that were already old took the knock. Some cardiac monitors date back to 2006.
The hospital has been repairing, repurposing, and holding things together, but there’s no more room to stretch.
That’s why a new Emergency Centre is being built. It’s a once-in-a-generation project that will finally give patients and staff the space, dignity and care they deserve.
The project has been in the works for over a decade. Planning began in 2012, building started last year, and phase one has already been completed. Phase two, which includes the trauma and non-trauma sides, is now underway.
If all goes to plan, construction will wrap up by February 2026. The current trauma unit will then be turned into a radiology department for emergencies, and the non-trauma side into a specialist referral hub.
But as with all good things, there are hurdles to get through. The centre won’t be able to function without the right equipment, and right now, there isn’t enough money to buy what’s needed.
“To be functional, the Emergency Centre requires certain equipment. This includes things like the Lodox (X-ray imaging system), ultrasound machines, and cardiac monitors, all critical for the running of an emergency room. But even minor items, like patient trolleys, are critical,” explains Dr Annemarie Kropman, Head of the Emergency Unit.
“Unfortunately, we now know there isn’t enough money for the list of equipment required. It’s been quite a blow. So we have a funding gap, and a massive requirement to get support from the public and private sector for the items that will make the Emergency Centre function optimally.”
The team has kept things going with limited resources, but they are down to a single ultrasound machine being used for almost every patient who walks through the door. It isn’t sustainable.
The new Emergency Centre has the potential to transform care at one of the busiest and most reputable public hospitals in the country. But the doors can’t open properly until the equipment gap is closed.
Donations can be made through the Groote Schuur Trust.
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