Heroes of Groote Schuur, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town (2025)

17/11/2025

To mark World Prematurity Day, we speak to Ameerah Albertus, a dietitian who works in Groote Schuur Hospital’s Neonatal ICU.

“I'm a clinical dietician and my passion is neonatology. I'll screen babies every day, especially in the ICUs, to see if they are at risk of losing too much weight and I’ll adjust their feeding to prevent weight loss.

The difference a neonatal dietician can make for a baby is huge. If you as the dietician can start seeing a baby from the get-go, you can prevent their growth faltering or plateauing and ensure that the baby thrives while in the unit, which will then reduce the length of stay in the hospital so the baby can go home sooner.

Promoting the use of breast milk is a big part of what I do.

We always want to give our babies their own mom’s milk, but because we see a lot of high-risk mummies who might have had to have a C-section it can take up to three days for the mom's own milk to come in. In that case we would use donated milk. We have a donor milk bank in our unit, which is just for our babies.

We have a protocol in the unit – for all babies born less than 500 grams, we provide them with five days of donated breast milk. But if the mom is able to provide her own milk then we will give the mom's own milk. The first milk that comes out – colostrum – is considered the first immunisation for the baby and is especially important so we always promote that.

Normally the doctors would go to the mom and would talk to her about the importance of expressing. And when the mom does come down to see the baby for the first time in the unit, we hope that she brings us a few mls of her breast milk.

There are moms who come from far away and have to leave their babies. There’s financial strain and also social strain. It’s very hard for them. But we always encourage the mom to try and breastfeed, even if it’s 2mls or 5mls, because it makes a huge difference.

Sometimes there are moms that have an abundant supply of milk, that can be used for other babies. The nurses and I will speak to these moms and inform them that we have a donor milk bank and ask whether she’s willing for her milk to be used. I’ll also explain that we don’t just take the milk and give directly to other babies – it goes through a pasteurisation process and from there samples are sent to the lab for testing. Then the milk is frozen and can be kept for up to six months. And of course we always make sure that her own baby has enough first.

One of the things I find most fulfilling is seeing babies who have stayed here for three or four months finally going home with their mom. I had a baby that was discharged two weeks ago. When he was born at 24 weeks, he was 730 grams. He lost 24% of his birth weight, so his weight went down to 530 grams.

Most of these babies sadly don’t make it, but he did and was eventually discharged. That was a success story. He was 1,8kg when he left.

It’s just so rewarding being able to send a healthy baby home.”

29/10/2025

“I wrote an essay for my Grade 7 exam on the subject, ‘What I want to be one day’. I said that I wanted to be a nurse - I got good marks for it, and I was very chuffed. It’s amazing that life took me on that same pathway.

I started in 1990 as a nursing assistant. Then I worked for 26 years, but as I did I sort of climbed the ladder – I did my bridging course for an enrolled nurse and then became a staff nurse and then did a bridging course to become a registered nurse. Then after that I went to study opthalmology, so I am an opthalmic trained nurse specialising in that.

Then I became clinical facilitator In outpatients and after a short stint at Tygerberg Hospital I came back to Outpatients in this position. I basically manage all the clinics in Outpatients, and the nursing staff report to me, so it’s quite a big role.

From 0 to 10, my stress level is about eight on a day, but it is a rewarding type of stress because your fight is for the patients. I make sure I'm first and last to leave here. I’m not sure my husband always likes it, but it’s important to me.

Recently I spoke to the team and said that the little compliments we receive are so rewarding - just the fact that the patient appreciated what you've done and even more so if they remember your name. We always need to work towards making sure the patient is happy with whatever care they received. Sometimes there are factors like waiting time that are out of our control, but if we can at least give a smile or greet someone nicely and make sure they are comfortable, then you’re at least halfway to making someone happy.

And so I encourage my staff to have a morning talk with their patients in the clinics. It’s something I used to do. Every morning, my patients would get a talk. They would know my name, I would crack a joke and I would make sure that they knew where they needed to go. I believed that the most important person was the person who left last - I would sit and explain why they were leaving last. It’s all about effective communication.

If somebody leaves this hospital, or their clinic, or the outpatients, they need to know that they have been helped even if their condition might not go away, and that they’ve been given the service that they deserve.

Groote Schuur has given me a lot of opportunity - there’s been growth and opportunity and support over the years. I take pride in those who have gone before me, and were my mentors. And I sincerely hope that I am passing on some lessons to younger members of staff. But then I also learn from them on a daily basis - as a leader, I’ve learned that you don’t know it all!” - Mrs Sharon Serelina, Assistant Director, Nursing

16/10/2025

We speak to Nazlea Behardien Peters, Assistant Director of Radiology, who will be taking part in the 10km Peace Run on Saturday with colleagues from her department. They will join a group of 41 Groote Schuur staff members taking part in the various events on the Cape Town Marathon weekend to raise funds for Groote Schuur’s new Emergency Centre.

“At the moment the X-ray department works from two spaces, but when the new Emergency Centre is launched we’ll be working from a combined space right in the centre of the new area. We’re so excited to have a brand spanking-new department, but we also know that funding for this new space and the equipment that is required is a bit of a challenge.

So I thought I’d do a run just for fun and to help raise some money for the Emergency Unit as my personal contribution. But let's just make it clear - I’m ‘wunning’ on Saturday - walk running.

A few of the other people I work with here were keen to join so now we’re doing the 10km on Saturday together. Most of us are just social walkers. We like a party, so we’re seeing it as another type of party!

We’ve created a Give and Gain page, and we’ve been asking friends and family to support us, and slowly but surely some money has been trickling in. We know that we won’t be able to raise enough for the equipment that our department needs, because it is so expensive, but we thought that every bit raised towards the Emergency Centre would add to the pot and help.

I’m very proud to be part of this state hospital. Having a new department in the Emergency Centre is going to be amazing for our patients - being able to help them as soon as we can means that their recovery and rehabilitation is also going to be quicker.

I don’t think any of us are in this work for the accolades - we’re in it for what we can achieve for each person we happen to meet on our journey. We’re all a cog in this big wheel, all playing our part. So it's a massive multidisciplinary team that manages that one patient on their journey from the time they enter the institution until they are recovered and walk out of here.

We try and do the best we can, but we do need equipment to make it work even better, and hopefully our small contribution will play a role in making it happen.

Look out for us in our Groote Schuur Hospital Trust T-shirts!”

To donate:
https://www.givengain.com/campaign/run-for-gsh-trust-at-the-sanlam-cape-town-marathon-2025

13/10/2025

"I work at the breast clinic, and I also do the tele-meds - that involves me setting up the files for the patients who are phoned with the results for their mammograms, ultrasounds and biopsies. I will prepare the folders for the doctors, which will include the results. During the week, two or three doctors will come and call the patients.

The breast clinic takes place on Wednesdays and Fridays. We see around about 60 to 80 patients every clinic.

Our patients are referred here via an online process from GPs or the day hospitals. When the doctor does the referral online, the system automatically gives a date and that patient can come to the clinic.

Patients will come from the reception area downstairs, we will attend to them and put them in the rooms where doctors are situated. The doctor will first see and examine the patients, and then they will decide whether they need an ultrasound or a mammogram. The patients come back to us, and we give them follow up appointments - they will either come back to the breast clinic or get an appointment for a mammogram and ultrasound.

The results take a few weeks to come through. If the results show that there needs to be further investigation, the patient will be phoned by the doctor, and then they will come back to the breast clinic. They won’t be given results over the phone, but when they come into the clinic on a Friday, they will see the oncologist who will give them the results and will talk to them about their treatment plan.

We used to be a walk-in breast clinic on a Friday. But since COVID started, we had to reduce the amount of patients we could see, and the online calendar system was introduced. The new system works better, and so does the telephone clinic, which was introduced in 2020. People used to come into the hospital just for results, and sit waiting for a whole day - and sometimes the results wouldn’t even be available. So the teleplone clinic is much more efficient.

The rest of the patients will get a follow-up appointment for a mammogram or ultrasound in one or two years time. Some patients are discharged if everything is normal.

I like my job. I initially started as a volunteer, but became permanent in 2018. I find my work interesting, because you’re always learning. You become more familiar with the words and the concepts that are related to the work that is done here. And I actually graduated in May after studying a degree public administration so I’m hoping to use that in my future." - Rugayah Abrahams Le Roux, Administration Clerk

25/09/2025

We spoke to Kim Cornelius, a pharmacist at the L-Block Pharmacy, which sits in the Radiation Oncology Unit, about the recently completed renovations to the facility.

“I have been at Groote Schuur for five years. I started here as a community service pharmacist in 2020. Prior to that I was an intern at a private hospital.

I dispense medication to oncology patients who are receiving chemotherapy or radiation. The medication is take-home medication to help ease the symptoms they
experience and get them through the treatment.

My time at GS has been good so far and I have definitely learnt a lot. Being here and helping patients has been a rewarding and fruitful experience. As GS is a tertiary hospital, one gets to see and do a lot more than you might elsewhere, which
has given me many opportunities for growth.

What I enjoy about working at L-Block Pharmacy is that you get to see the patients regularly. They usually come for their chemotherapy every three weeks, some come weekly. Over time, this allows us to build relationships with them and become part of their journey, supporting them in small but important ways.

The L-Block Pharmacy was recently renovated, which has been a big help. Thespace used was outdated, smaller and lacked proper systems for a safe sterile working environment.

With the upgrades the pharmacy is larger, better equipped and allows us to keep more stock on hand. It is a more pleasant place to work in and allows us to deliver better quality care.

The renovations also included the area where the patients receive their chemo treatment. The area used to be quite small and uncomfortable for the patients. Thanks to the renovations, the room is now more spacious, bright and comfortable.
Chemotherapy is never easy, but a pleasant environment helps.

We only moved in a few weeks ago so we’re still settling in and trying to make it a home. We are fully functioning and dispensing medication to our patients.”

18/09/2025

As part of our Pharmacy Month focus, we spoke to Tasneem Asmall, a production pharmacist in the inpatients pharmacy, about the new staff tea room mural she recently painted at the outpatients pharmacy.

“I have been at Groote Schuur Hospital for 11 years. I came here straight out of my community service placement in 2014.

I enjoy working at GS for a number of reasons. I have some really good colleagues that make the working environment a lot more comfortable and a nice place to work in. I'm grateful for the good colleagues I work with and a lot of them have become really amazing friends.

I also really enjoy helping people and I know that this is one of the places that we can actually make a difference. It is challenging because there is a high volume of patients coming to the pharmacies. But we have a team that's all on the same page about wanting to help patients, putting the patients first and working together to make things better, not only for the patients, but also for us.

I used to work at the outpatients pharmacy, but was recently rotated to the inpatient pharmacy. It is very busy from the time we get there until home time. But it's good to be doing something that has such a positive impact on people's lives.

I think the pharmacy team often feels like we are overlooked because all the nice wellness things happen during our peak periods. So we’ve been looking at trying to incorporate wellness for pharmacy, by doing what we can during our quiet times of the day. Towards the end of last year, we said that our tea room needed a revamp. The windows were a little bit dirty and the walls needed to be cleaned and painted, so we decided to ask if it would be possible for us to do a mural.

I really enjoy painting and I actually run some art classes as a side hustle to help people. So that's why I thought it would be such a nice idea to do a cool mural and just make the tea room a more fun and lively space to walk into. We wanted to give people coming for tea and lunch something small to make them smile, whilst still having something related to pharmacy.

They asked me if I would be interested in helping with the project, which I did. It was really such a pleasure to work on it and I'm grateful that I got to do something nice for the team because they deserve nice things.

I got some help from some of my colleagues. A lot of people came to help when we were painting the blank wall. I had to do the details mainly by myself, but the first part of the project was a group effort.

We just wanted it to be a nice space to feel comfortable and where people can take their tea time and their lunchtime in a clean environment that brightens your day a little bit.”

12/09/2025

September is Pharmacy Month. We speak to pharmacy assistants Endie Teyise, Banele Ndyenga and Lionel Clarence about the new medicine lockers at the hospital.

Endie Teyise: “The idea for the lockers started because we didn’t want our patients to wait for a long time at the pharmacy for their medication. Many of them have previously had to spend a lot of time queuing. Often people are forced to miss work because have to spend a few hours queuing for their medication. Some patients also come from far away. So it costs our patients in terms of time and also money.”

Lionel Clarence “The locker system is being used in a few other places, like the District Six Hospital. We went to see them there, and then the lockers were installed here in March this year.”

Banele Ndyenga: “Now, two days before our patients come for their repeat medication, we update their folders and we prepare their medicine and we place it in the locker. The patient then gets an sms with a pin, and they are able to come and collect their medication within three days. So now the patients can come and collect their medicine when it’s convenient for them. They can even come on the weekend. They can also send someone else to collect it for them if that works better for them.

Lionel Clarence: “For example, there is a patient who is blind. She used to be dropped by a driver and then wait hours for her medication, and then would call the driver to collect her when she was ready. Now the driver just comes past the hospital to collect her medication for her."

Banele Ndyenga: “It also helps with the staff from Groote Schuur who would come and collect medication. Before they used to come to the pharmacy around 2pm and there would be a bit of a backlog, but now they can also collect from the lockers. And they don’t have to leave their stations for a long time either. They can come after work.”

Endie Teyise: “Because of this system, the backlog and waiting times in the pharmacy has really decreased. We like the system because it has made things more efficient and reduced the waiting times in pharmacy, but the feedback we’re getting from patients is that they also really prefer this system.”

04/09/2025

Groote Schuur Hospital is in the middle of building a brand-new Emergency Centre, a once-in-a-generation project that will give patients the care and dignity they deserve when they are accessing care for emergencies. But without the right equipment the Centre won’t be able to function optimally. Dr Annemarie Kropman, Head of the Emergency Unit, explains why the build is so urgent and why we need the public’s support.

Q: Can you tell us about the new Emergency Centre?

“The project started in about 2012 with the drawing up of diagrams. These were revisited in 2019 and then they started building last year. It’s being built where the ambulance parking trauma deck was.

Phase one was finished last year and we’re currently in phase two, which entails the construction of the trauma and non-trauma side. Completion should be in February next year. Phase three is when we will move into the new Emergency Centre and start using it, and that is when the majority of the equipment has to be functional and ready.

The current trauma centre is being repurposed as a radiology department for emergency patients, and the non-trauma side as a referral centre for various disciplines.”

Q: What equipment will the new Centre need to function optimally?

“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.

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.

Groote Schuur is a tertiary emergency centre, there’s a certain service we should be able to provide, but without the correct equipment we will not be able to do so. That’s the bottom line.”

Q: What is the situation like in the current Emergency Unit?

“Currently Groote Schuur’s Emergency area has two parts, trauma and non-trauma, and both areas see a huge number of patients. But both have outgrown their capacity and purpose. Patient numbers have been increasing because of a growing local population and a growing number of people falling off medical aid, while the degree of patient illness has also been getting worse.

The facilities are very old and the building is run down. It’s difficult to keep fixing and remodelling. Because this is such a small area for the amount of patients we see, there’s never the opportunity to make something better because we can't move the patients anywhere else.”

Q: What pressures has equipment been under in recent years?

“The facility took a big knock during Covid. This area received the patients with acute Covid and respiratory issues, and our emergency equipment was put under extra pressure.
For example, the cardiac monitors had to see us right through Covid. Some of them are from 2006, so they were quite old already, and then because they had extra use they started breaking. There are no repair parts. We’ve repurposed what we can, but it gets to a point where there’s nothing more you can do.

Medical technology moves so quickly, and a good example is the ultrasound. It’s now a vital function in an emergency centre. But we only have one ultrasound, and it’s being used for almost every patient coming through the door. It also had to go through the whole of Covid and we haven’t had the funds to buy a new one.
We’ve been using our very limited financial resources to buy absolute essentials, but we’ve been waiting and making do until the launch of the new Emergency Centre. We try to overcome as much as we can, but there’s a point at which we won’t be able to fix the next monitor that breaks.”

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Help us equip the new Emergency Centre and give Dr Kropman and her team the tools they need to save lives. Click here to contribute: https://www.gshtrust.co.za/donate

28/08/2025

As our final Woman’s Month post, we focus Sister Fatoema Moos and Sister June Lydia Bailey-Smith. Both are operational managers (Ward F12 and F5 respectively) in the Gynaecology Ward, who have developed a strong and unique friendship along with a passion for women’s health – and have served women, mothers and children for over 30 years.

Fatoema Moos: “My journey into women's health began 27 years ago when I was a newly registered nurse. Growing up in a staunch and conservative Muslim household, I was shielded from discussions about various conditions affecting women, such as infertility and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). My late mother held the belief that if a girl missed her period, she was surely pregnant. Seeking help to conceive was a taboo topic. At that time, I was in my twenties, newly married, and striving to conceive.

In April 1997, I began working in the gynaecology ward amid significant political changes in South Africa post-apartheid. New laws were being introduced, including the Termination of Pregnancy Act. Initially, I feared that handling this aspect of women's health might be emotionally challenging due to my own struggles with infertility. However, I was amazed by my resilience and ability to provide compassionate care to all women, regardless of their circumstances.

I discovered an unexpected strength within myself. I embraced women's health with enthusiasm and dedication. The more I learned, the more passionate I became. I was able to look beyond the reasons women chose to terminate their pregnancies and provided them with full, non-judgmental nursing care. Conversely, I also nursed patients trying to conceive and could empathize with them by sharing my own experiences.

During my time in gynaecology, I had the privilege of meeting June Lydia Bailey-Smith, who became my friend and confidante. Our shared experiences with infertility created a strong bond between us. We were affectionately known as the "Twinsies" as we walked down hospital street together.

Despite our different leadership styles, we work together to provide quality nursing care to women of all ages and backgrounds. Each woman receives the same level of care, regardless of the circumstances that bring her to our doorstep.

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June Lydia Bailey-Smith: “Women’s health is our core business, and we are committed to providing comprehensive care for various conditions affecting the female reproductive system. These include infertility, sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy terminations, urinary system issues, and different cancers.

Our approach also encompasses end-of-life care, addressing the needs of both the very young and aged patients.
We understand the vulnerability women face when afflicted with conditions affecting their reproductive health.

Our services extend to managing sexually assaulted patients and those experiencing pregnancy losses, such as miscarriages and intrauterine deaths, making them among the most vulnerable of all patients. We also provide care for patients who develop complications post-delivery, treating mothers and newborn babies in totality to promote the bond between them.

A ‘thoroughfare ward’ previously posed a significant safety and security risk to our newborn babies, increasing the risk of baby snatching. For almost two years, mothers and newborn babies were separated due to our inability to provide a safe and secure space for them. This separation negatively impacted our patients' emotional and physical well-being, leading some to refuse hospital treatment.

In response, we worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure a safe space for our patients. Our wards are now access-controlled, restricting entry to ensure the safety and security of our patients and newborn babies. This measure allows us to promote women’s health in the most effective way, addressing the comprehensive needs of our patients and their families.”

21/08/2025

This Women’s Month, we highlight some of the many incredible women who work at Groote Schuur. Today we talk to Tania Sulyman, senior enrolled nursing auxiliary, from the Maxillo-Facial Unit.

“I started at Groote Schuur on 1 March 1988. I trained at Carinus Nursing College, and spent my first month in the gynaecology unit. After that, I moved to cardiothoracics, then to the intensive care unit, before working in trauma. That was before the new building was constructed. After it was built, I worked in various units there for about 17 years until I moved to Maxillo-Facial in 2006.

We mostly deal with facial fractures, so we see many former trauma patients, patients with growths, and children. We also treat patients from across the province who are referred to Groote Schuur, which I am very passionate about, because of the process of getting here.

For example, if a patient comes from George, they arrive at George Hospital at 6pm and spend the night there before being collected at 5am for the drive here. Not everyone who travels from far has money for padkos, so we always try to make sure they have something to eat for the journey back.

We always try to accommodate patients, even if they arrive on the wrong day for their appointment. Not everyone can afford to make two trips to the hospital, so our goal is to ensure they are attended to wherever possible. It’s easy for us to say, ‘Come back tomorrow,’ but it’s not always easy for them to return the next day.

Where we can, we also try to make sure patients can fit all their hospital appointments into one day. So if they’re coming in for blood work, for example, we’ll do our best to accommodate them on the same day, so they only have to make one trip to Groote Schuur.

I always try to help with people’s bus fares or buy them small things to eat, like a yoghurt or a packet of chips. Not everyone can eat solid foods because of the medical issues they’re dealing with, so I try to get them something they’re able to eat.

What I enjoy about working at Groote Schuur is that, in the Maxillo-Facial Unit, we’re like a family. We’re not a big unit, so I’d describe us as a close-knit team that works together as part of a multidisciplinary approach. When we work together, it’s always for the benefit of the patients.

I always strive to be non-judgemental because I’ve never walked in their shoes. People tend to judge trauma patients, but my patients are always my first priority, and that’s why I’m here.”

14/08/2025

“After I finished school I applied to nursing because that was my dream, but I also applied to the navy, the army, the police, and for a girl Friday position - which I got. I started working there but when they heard I’d also applied for nursing they fired me! But I prayed about it, and then Groote Schuur Hospital responded to say my application was successful.

And so I started here in October 1985 at Ward F4. It was the orthapedic ward, but orthopaedics also had a section for oncology patients. My first assignment was to wash one of these patients, who was very sick. But I was very calm, and I saw that as the beginning of my journey with nursing and oncology.

When I had qualified as an enrolled nurse, I worked in A6 opthalmology and there I was working with patients with retinoblastomers. So it doesn’t seem strange that I’ve spent the last 20 or so years in the oncology ward - I moved here in 2003.

I like to think that I have compassion for all my patients, and treat our patients like I’d want to be treated. Sometimes it can be hard. Once after a patient had just passed on, another younger sister asked how I could not cry. I took her aside and told her that I had learnt that I couldn’t be emotional but needed to stay focused. But sometimes you do feel it, and just want to let it out and have a good cry.

I always pray whem I'm coming to work, and before I start anything, I ask for His grace and protection and for Him to work through me so that I can help people better. I’ve seen miracles happen in my time here.

I’ve done a lot of courses in my time here because patients always had questions for me, and I wanted to know ‘why’ and how to do things.

And now I’m about to retire after 40 years of work. I have mixed feelings about it but at the moment I’m also looking after my 94-year-old mom, who has been through quite a lot. I’ll miss the people and the one-to-one contact. Working here has been my passion, and I’ve loved working with the patients. So far I’ve been very blessed.” — Sister Sharon Trussell

Heroes of Groote Schuur

17/11/2025

29/10/2025

16/10/2025

13/10/2025

25/09/2025

18/09/2025

12/09/2025

04/09/2025

28/08/2025

21/08/2025

14/08/2025

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Heroes of Groote Schuur