Our Hospital

Our story

Groote Schuur is known for our Firsts. It is iconic. World-class. It’s where it all began: not only where the first Heart Transplant was performed but it also has 12 firsts throughout the World, 5 throughout Africa and 18 in South Africa.

Groote Schuur

Groote Schuur Hospital is Cape Town’s premier tertiary academic hospital. It has numerous global accolades, and is internationally renowned as the training ground for some of South Africa (and the world’s) best doctors, surgeons and nurses.

Working with UCT


Groote Schuur Hospital provides a teaching and research platform to the University of Cape Town Faculty of Health Sciences for both undergraduate and postgraduate training. Medical and Allied Health students receive their clinical training at the hospital and post graduate students are appointed by the hospital into registrar posts for the purpose of specialization and sub-specialization. 

Research also takes place with the approval of the University of Cape Town Research Ethics Committee as well as the Groote Schuur Research Ethics Committee. To facilitate teaching and learning, medical staff are appointed by the Province, but have a joint accountability to the University for their academic responsibilities. These staff work across the referral platform providing outreach services to the associated regional, district and tuberculosis hospitals.

World Firsts

Human heart transplant

First In The World

1967

The first human to human heart transplant was performed by Dr Christiaan Barnard on 3 December 1967.

Fallopian tube transplant

First In The World

1975

First vascularized human fallopian tube transplant performed by Dr Brian Cohen and his team.

Brain tumor detection

First In The World

1981

First non-invasive method of locating brain tumors with the use of a plastic head 'dubbed' Tom.

Kidney transplant

First In The World

2008

First HIV positive to positive kidney transplant.

Ultrasound & mammogram device

First In The World

2015

Aceso machine tested at GSH. First combined ultrasound and mammography device.

Brain operation

First In The World

2017

First brain operation through the orbit of the eye.

African & SA Firsts

SA blood transfusion

First In Africa & SA

1965

First SA pre-birth blood transfusion in Dept of O and G under X-Ray Guidance.

Triple heart valve operation

First In Africa & SA

1966

The hospital performed the first triple heart valve operation successfully.

Valve and pacemaker insertion

First In Africa & SA

1967

First valve and pacemaker insertion in SA.

Bone marrow transplant

First In Africa & SA

1974

First bone marrow transplant in SA

Neonatal thyroid screening

First In Africa & SA

1981

Prof Bonnici, Mike Mann and Dave Woods piloted the first neonatal thyroid screening programme in Africa.

Heart-lung transplant

First In Africa & SA

1985

First successful heart-lung transplants in SA was performed by Dr Bruno Reichart at GSH from 1985-1989.

Liver transplant

First In Africa & SA

1988

Prof. Terblanche and surgical team successfully transplanted a liver into a patient. First for SA.

Hand replant

First In Africa & SA

1993

First hand replant surgery in South Africa performed by Dr Martin Singer

Multi-organ transplant

First In Africa & SA

1994

First Multi-organ transplant is performed in Africa

ARV in children

First In Africa & SA

2002

First in the country to initiate ARV for children with HIV.

Insert a titanium bone

First In Africa & SA

2004

Insertion of a titanium bone in arm. First in South Africa.

Intra-operative florescence

First In Africa & SA

2013

Surgery on brain tumor using intra-operative florescence used to light up affected areas in the brain.

Implanted smallest pacemaker

First In Africa & SA

2015

Ashley Chin implanted the world's smallest pacemaker into a patient. First in Africa.

Public Sector Firsts

Peritoneal dialysis

First In Public Sector

1967

First cases of peritoneal dialysis in the Cape.

Corneal transplant

First In Public Sector

1969

First corneal transplant in the Cape.

Test tube babies born

First In Public Sector

1986

First test-tube babies in the Cape born at GSH.

Piggy-back heart transplant

First In Public Sector

1974

First piggy-back heart transplant.

Bone-anchored hearing

First In Public Sector

2011

The first bone-anchored hearing aid in public sector

Rapid Arch Technology

First In Public Sector

2014

First in SA to use Rapid Arch Technology in the Public Sector.

Heart transplant pregnancy

First In Public Sector

2014

First pregnancy carried to term in heart transplant patient in SA.

Aortic valve replacement

First In Public Sector

2016

First to do an aortic valve replacement through a keyhole size incision.

Projects we support

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Diabetes Centre...

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Surgical Recovery

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Kangaroo Mother Care:...

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