Surgeons at Groote Schuur Hospital welcome cash injection to open more trauma centre operating theatres
Currently, the hospital has two operating theatres, and the money will allow for more people to be recruited to fill the empty theatres to do more surgeries.
Groote Schuur Trust officials with Surgeons and nurses from Groote Schuur hospital during the launch of the Emergency Funds for Emergency Surgery project at the hospital on Monday, 14 April 2025. Picture: Ntuthuzelo Nene/ Eyewitness News
CAPE TOWN - Surgeons at Groote Schuur Hospital have welcomed a cash injection from the hospital's trust to open more theatres at its trauma centre.
Currently, the hospital has two operating theatres, and the money will allow for more people to be recruited to fill the empty theatres to do more surgeries.
The trust said it had raised R300,000 so far and needed another R1.8 million to provide more resources for surgeries in the hospital's trauma centre.
The hospital usually operates on at least 25 patients a day, however, this number doubles during long weekends and public holidays.
Orthopaedic surgeon, Dr Maritz Laubscher, said the initiative makes a huge difference for him and colleagues, as the surge in serious traumas affected their patients the most.
"Because our patients seldomly have life-threatening emergencies, they keep getting pushed to the bottom of the pile. So, patients often wait a very long time for their surgery in hospital. It's frustrating for us but also bad for the patients, so this enables us, like today, to operate four people that can go home tomorrow, so we can get to the next four, and the next four."
Groote Schuur Hospital Trust executive director, Kristy Evans, explained how people can donate to the cause.
"If you would like to donate to a surgical list then you can go to the Groote Schuur Hospital Trust website and donate. It's www.ghstrust.co.za and you can do an online donation or EFT."