Heroes of Groote Schuur, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town (2026)

22/07/2026

"My name is Bernadette Claassen. I’m a Registered nurse and have worked in the Haematology outpatients clinic for the past 10 years.

In E5 I’m part of the Haematology team that takes care of patients with blood and bone marrow cancers like myeloma and leukemia, as well as other blood disorders like sickle cell disease and thalassaemia.

Even though we are not at all involved in the process of blood donations and the processing of blood products, our department is by far one of the greatest users of these life-saving products for our patients.

While blood and blood products are essential in the active treatment of our patients, it is also a very important commodity in the end-of-life/palliative stage.

In E5 we transfuse 10-20 patients on average per week and it is our job to send the right patient's blood with the right identification label to the blood bank for cross matching. We work closely with the Groote Schuur blood bank staff and have a good relationship with them.

With the help of the whole team, including doctors, nursing staff, messengers, porters and clerical staff, this is mostly a well-organised operation.

And I think our patients feel like they get a lot of support. Many of them are appreciative, and they or their relatives will come and thank us. It means a lot to us – they don’t have to bring us chocolates or gifts, just those small words make a big difference."

14/07/2026

Groote Schuur’s Revenue team was one of the three recipients of the CEO Commendation Awards at the hospital's recent Servamus Awards. Muhammed Khan, deputy director of Finance Patient Administration, Fees And Information Management, tells us more:

“The Revenue team that received the award is housed under the umbrella of Finance. There are more than 250 people working in the department and all of them in some way or another contributed towards us exceeding our revenue target by over 30%.

Finances in any sphere of government is a sticky affair; there are more rules that govern us than awards for any good work done. Handling state funds diligently, ethically, and with accountability is seen as an inherent requirement of the job. But being recognised for going above and beyond the required output is refreshing and inspiring. In his speech at the awards ceremony, our CEO Dr Shaheem de Vries described our function as transactional but equally important to patient care.

Personally, I think these types of awards are brilliant – the people who turn the cogs of the powerful machine that is Groote Schuur on all levels were recognised. They are a way to show appreciation towards all levels of staff across multiple platforms.”

Pictured, from left to right: Dr Keith Cloete, the Head of Department: Health and Wellness, the Revenue team's Muhammed Khan, Lauren Venter, Zandile Lukas and CEO Dr Shaheem de Vries.

05/07/2026

Night Nurse Manager Sadick Swartz recently received one of the CEO Commendation Awards at the hospital's Servamus Awards. He tells us more about what the award means to him and what inspires him:

“Receiving the award is a humbling recognition of the commitment to nursing leadership, patient care, and service excellence. It reflects not only my individual efforts but also the dedication of the nursing teams I have the privilege of leading. As a Night Nurse Manager, I am honoured that the often unseen work performed after hours has been acknowledged by the hospital’s executive leadership.

Daily inspiration often comes from knowing that your work makes a real difference in the lives of patients, families, and the nursing team you lead.

I find daily inspiration:
• In the resilience of patients who face illness with courage and hope.
• In the dedication of my nursing colleagues, who continue to give their best even during challenging night shifts. I draw my strength an inspiration from team members who allow me to realize and know that my contribution to the task remains valuable and create a positive change to outcomes.
• In serving others, knowing that every decision I make contributes to safe, compassionate, and quality patient care. 'It is in giving itself, that the candle gives light.'
• In mentoring and supporting staff, helping nurses grow in confidence, competence, and professionalism.
• In small victories, whether it’s a patient recovering, a family expressing gratitude, or a team successfully managing a difficult situation.
• In my faith and purpose, remembering that nursing is more than a profession — it is a calling to care for others. It’s a fundamental act of God and any religion or faith.
• In the legacy of excellence at Groote Schuur Hospital, where innovation, teaching, and world-class healthcare continue to impact countless lives.
• Self talk daily, dedicating an everyday pledge of service to those within and beyond our reach. While we wait on God to do the big things, we do what waiters do – we serve!

As a Night Nurse Manager at Groote Schuur Hospital, my inspiration comes from serving others with compassion, leading my team through challenges, and witnessing the strength and resilience of both patients and staff. What I enjoy most is being part of a remarkable institution where teamwork, excellence, and a commitment to quality care make a meaningful difference in people’s lives every day.”

30/06/2026

Earlier this month, Groote Schuur Hospital held its Servamus Awards,a prestigious night of recognition for staff members - some of whom will be featured on this page over the next two weeks.

Groote Schuur Hospital CEO Dr Shaheem de Vries tells us more about the awards:

"The Servamus Awards were created to celebrate the people of Groote Schuur Hospital who bring our values to life in the work they do every day. Inspired by our motto, Servamus — we serve — the awards recognise that excellence in a hospital is not only found in big achievements, but also in the quiet acts of care, professionalism, teamwork and service that keep the hospital going every day.

At its heart, the awards are a celebration of the people who shape the culture of Groote Schuur Hospital. They recognise the many ways in which staff, teams and partners contribute through compassion, integrity, leadership, and care for others. More than this, the Servamus Awards honour not just what people do, but how they do it — and remind us that the real strength of this hospital has always been its people."

22/06/2026

We speak to Principal Rosetta Cupido (pictured left), who runs the Groote Schuur school along with teacher Natasha van Jaarsveld (pictured right).

“Hospital schools were created in the 1950s because children were often hospitalised for extended periods of time. Today there are only about five hospital schools in the Western Cape and we are one of them.

When I came here in 2013 I took over from a teacher who had worked here since the 1950s – she had been here her entire working life.

Since 2013 the school has been made up of myself and fellow teacher Natasha van Jaarsveld, who joined shortly after me. I got involved in special school education very early in my career, and worked at a number schools before getting the post here, and have been here ever since.

We see learners from grade 7 to 12 – these are patients who are in the hospital for an extended period of time – and we teach the curriculum. Natasha does Grades 7, 8 and 9, and I do Grades 11 and 12.

We support our learners in literacy and numeracy, so it's mathematics and language. And we also do some life orientation.

But each child is different and each child's needs are different. When we first meet the child, we’ll ask what they were doing in school, what they were busy with, so we know where we can assist.

But most importantly, we ask: “What do you need?”

A lot of the kids who come here are chronic patients. They are in and out of hospital, they fall behind, and lots of them fall out of school. We have a massive dropout right around Grade 9. So we actively try to get these kids back into school. We work with the district, get them tested, see if they can get the accommodation, see if they can get learning support, and get them back into the system. That's a big part of what we do as well.

When it comes to working with children who are often very ill, it requires a different set of skills. You can't come to a child who is lying there in pain and say, ‘Let's do some algebra.’ We have to do things gently and work at their pace. We get to know them first and make them feel safe.

I think over the years, the two of us have developed a method where we're getting very fast in terms of assessing the child and where they need our help. It might be something specific in mathematics that they didn't pick up a couple of years ago. We figure out where the gaps are and then we focus on that instead of trying to struggle along.

A couple of years ago we were given a space at the hospital, and we were able to create a classroom, which is really so great for the kids. And the Department of Education also donated laptops, and assistive devices for children who need them, so we feel really fortunate.

The adolescent patients who are able to are sent to the classroom space for the day and get out of the ward, which really helps them. We get to work with them and motivate them, and we’ve had quite a few success stories with these kids.

I definitely find this work fulfilling. I feel that I can make an impact on someone. I think I can look at the distraught mother and say to her, ‘You know, I've seen this already. It's going to be fine.’

It’s not just about the educational support, it’s also about the emotional support – to be there for the child and lift them up in their time of need. That is what takes preference. Yes, we have to do schoolwork, but for us, school is secondary to the child's emotional needs.”

05/06/2026

A patient recently sent in a letter of thanks for the excellent care provided by the Groote Schuur Stoma Therapy team. Nicci Petersen, the Operational Manager of the Stoma Therapy Department, tells us more about the work they do:

“We see patients who have had diversion surgery affecting bladder or bowel function. Sometimes it's elective patients and sometimes it's emergency patients. We also counsel patients in the specialised intestinal failure unit.

You can imagine, if someone has to wear a pouch system for continence, it changes their body image, it changes their lifestyle, it changes their family dynamic. They have questions about work, intimacy, normal social activities – and then couple that with having to deal with a disease process.

We counsel patients with their families through this process and help them understand their specific diversion is in relation to their disease process. Counselling is reinforced during pre-op and the postoperatively phase, until they have their 'driver's licence'.

We maintain close liaison with community clinics and the supply chain to ensure continuity of care across the patient journey, and a clearly defined referral pathway, as clinical decision-making —particularly the offering of surgery — must be supported by the availability of appropriate products, follow-up care, and community-based support systems. Without this alignment, there is a risk of proceeding with interventions that cannot be safely sustained beyond the acute setting.

We are a very small team of four, providing a service for Groote Schuur, clinical support for the community clinics and education to assist the Department of Health

I saw the need for education because our secondary hospitals generally didn’t have stoma therapists, and that placed pressure on Groote Schuur. So in conjunction with University of Free State we started to facilitate a stoma therapy post-graduate course for registered nurses. With the support of corporate partners and the NGO The South African Society of Ostomates - SASS, a strong collaborative network has been established to encourage provincial and regional hospitals to send staff for this training. This progress is particularly meaningful, as only a few years ago there were no trained stoma therapists in many regions, leaving patients without access to appropriate care.

The journey is different for every stoma patient. For me, success is when a patient is given the time they need to find acceptance, and when they have the right support — whatever that may look like for them. Success also means having a trained stoma therapist involved from the outset, not only to support the patient but also to work alongside and support the surgeon. Ultimately, success is ensuring that we only offer surgery when there are appropriate, sustainable products available to support the patient’s ongoing care.

Our Stoma Department provides a constant place of safety and comfort for patients, families and students.

It was very touching to read that compliment. You know, it finds you in the darkest time in your day. This job is not about accolades, and sometimes we fall short, but we all have tough days. When that happens, sometimes you’re the one to give inspiration, but sometimes you’re the one who receives inspiration from others."

14/05/2026

For World Haemophilia Day, we spoke to Sister “Annie” Anne-Louise Cruickshank, the Haemophilia Nurse Co-ordinator for the South African Haemophilia Foundation based at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town.

Sister Annie works closely with people living with haemophilia and related bleeding disorders. Her role includes patient education, family support, outreach, and helping patients understand how to manage their condition.

“Groote Schuur Hospital’s haematology clinic sees patients with different blood disorders. These include haemophilia, von Willebrand disease, rare factor deficiencies, sickle cell disease, and blood cancers such as leukaemia, myeloma and lymphoma. The clinic also supports the bone marrow transplant programme. The clinic services both male and female patients for bleeding disorders.

My focus is on haemophilia and the genetic bleeding disorders programme, which forms part of this wider service.

For the past four years, my position has been supported by the South African Haemophilia Foundation. On alternating days I work between Groote Schuur Hospital, Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital and Tygerberg Hospital. I also support outreach work across the province.

The South African Haemophilia Foundation also supports other nurses across South Africa. Our nurses cover the whole country from Limpopo to Northern Cape. We travel a great deal to reach patients and clinics.

Haemophilia is a genetic bleeding disorder that mainly affects males. It means that the blood does not clot properly, which can lead to longer bleeding after an injury, operation or dental procedure. Some people may also bleed into their joints or muscles.

For about 70% of patients, haemophilia is inherited. In these cases, we draw up family trees and follow up with family members who may be carriers.

We also counsel men who have haemophilia and ask whether they have daughters, because their daughters will be carriers. These women may pass the condition on to their sons.
This is why it is very important for us to know when a mother who is a carrier is pregnant. If the baby is a boy, we make sure that he is delivered at a tertiary hospital and tested for haemophilia at birth.

In about 30% of patients, there is no known family history of haemophilia. This means the condition can appear in a family for the first time.

I think it takes a big adjustment for patients and families when someone is diagnosed with haemophilia. But we always say that if the condition is well managed, it should only play a small part in a person’s life.

Haemophilia is a good example of a genetic condition that can be treated and managed very well. Today, there is no reason why a child born with haemophilia should not go to school, get an education, study further, work, and live a full life like anyone else. That is what we want for every patient.

However, access to care can still be difficult for many families in South Africa. In some communities, poverty and limited resources make it hard for patients to get to hospital for care and lifelong follow-up. Transport costs, distance, and access to treatment can all become barriers.

Ultimately, we want our patients to manage their condition well so that they do not need to spend too much time in hospital.

Through the SAHF, we educate patients about their condition. We also support people with bleeding disorders across the country with medical alert bracelets. These bracelets can save lives. They alert healthcare workers that the patient has a bleeding disorder and may need clotting factor treatment first.

There has been real progress in haemophilia care, and patients can now live much more normal lives. When I worked at the Johannesburg Haemophilia Centre (now Charlotte Maxeke Hemophilia Treatment Centre) in 1991, the ward was often full of young boys and patients who were bleeding because they were not yet on prophylaxis.

From the early 2000s, we slowly started putting patients on prophylaxis – regular treatment given to help prevent bleeding before it happens. This was a major step forward. It meant patients were better managed, had fewer bleeds, and did not need to spend as much time in hospital.

I really enjoy what I do. That is why I am still working, even though I should be retired. I am humbled by the patients I work with. I have known some families for many years, and they are incredible people. I do not know where they get their strength from. If it were not for them, I would not have had the job, the career, and the opportunities I have had. I am truly grateful."

12/05/2026

On International Nurses Day, we'd like to share this message received today:

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Dear Groote Schuur Hospital Team,

On International Nurses Day, I wanted to pass on my sincere gratitude to the staff in the Neuro ICU.

Our dear friend, was treated there in April, for a ruptured brain aneurysm, and the care he received was exceptional. The professionalism, dedication, and compassion shown by your nursing staff to his wife, made an incredibly difficult time more bearable for him and for us.

Their hard work does not go unnoticed, and I can't praise them highly enough. Please pass on our thanks to everyone in Neuro ICU for the outstanding standard of care they provide every day.

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To all the nurses who deliver care with professionalism and compassion, often under difficult circumstances - thank you!

12/05/2026

To the nurses who show up with compassion, strength and unwavering care - thank you for being the heartbeat of healing. Happy Nurses Day 💛

23/04/2026

We speak to Sister Tandiswa Ndungane, Assistant Nursing Manager in the Trauma & Emergency Unit, who has been a hero in the Emergency Centre on C floor for many years and retires at the end of April this year.

"Although I’m now a nurse in and out, I ended up being one almost by accident. When I finished matric, I didn’t go straight into studying because I felt like I needed a break, but my mother suggested I go and see if there were any opportunities for work at a local hospital. At first the woman in charge said there wasn’t anything available, but then she called me back for an interview. So that’s how I started.

The fact that I am retiring after 32 years of nursing is bittersweet, but the fact that I'm going back to my family is something I am happy about.

I’m going back to KwaZulu-Natal, where my husband is, and one of the things I’m planning to do is to open a small clinic. You know us nurses - once a nurse always a nurse. We have to do something, we can’t sit still.

I came to Groote Schuur in 2017, and so it’s my 8th year here. I’d been at lots of places before. My first hospital role in the Western Cape was in Worcester, but then I had to move closer to Cape Town because my husband’s work was here and it was a bit too much for him to drive into the city every day.

And fortunately, in terms of me looking for a new role, it just came together and thanks to God this post of Assistant Manager in the ICU was available for me.

I've been in ICU my whole life of nursing. I love the rush and I love having to think on my feet. Things change fast and there are lots of challenges.

You have to have courage to work in this environment, but you must also have patience because we are the entrance of the hospital.

But we also really rely on the team members in the other areas - like medical wards, surgical wards, theatre ICUs - because after a patient is seen by our doctors here then they are sent to one of these areas.

There are obviously lots of challenges that we face. One of the main ones is the budget cuts. Our staff is almost half of what it is supposed to be. We rely on a lot of overtime shifts, and agency workers. It’s a challenge working with agency staff as we don’t know how they were trained and we have to spend a lot of time orientating them. And even though we may have everything organised perfectly, if an agency nurse is unable to come in on a certain day then it leaves a huge hole that we have to try and cover.

In terms of equipment, we manage to work with what we have. We’re so used to the old equipment and making a plan. But we foresee issues in terms of equipment when we move to the new Emergency Centre, because the old equipment just won’t work there.

Having a new Emergency Centre is going to be really great for the hospital. Trauma is scheduled to be moving in on 18 May, but we are still trying to figure things out and prepare for it.

I’m going to miss it here. My staff are like my own kids. Some of them are worried about my departure, but I say, ‘Don’t worry, God will raise another me in another form’.”

Heroes of Groote Schuur

22/07/2026

14/07/2026

05/07/2026

30/06/2026

22/06/2026

05/06/2026

14/05/2026

12/05/2026

12/05/2026

23/04/2026

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