The Department of Critical Care at Groote Schuur Hospital (GSH), affiliated with the University of Cape Town (UCT), stands at the forefront of critical care medicine in South Africa. Our mission is to deliver exceptional patient care, advance medical research, and provide comprehensive training to the next generation of healthcare professionals.
Our Services
We offer a wide array of critical care services across multiple specialised units:
-
Medical ICU: Specialising in the management of severe medical conditions requiring intensive monitoring and treatment.
-
Surgical ICU: Providing postoperative care for patients undergoing complex surgical procedures.
-
Cardiothoracic ICU: Focused on patients recovering from heart and lung surgeries.
-
Neurosurgical ICU: Dedicated to patients with critical neurological conditions, including traumatic brain injuries and aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhages.
Our team comprises experienced intensivists, nurses, and allied health professionals who collaborate to ensure the highest standard of care. Notably, the Neurosurgical ICU manages a significant number of trauma cases, with a focus on specialised invasive intracranial monitoring.
Education and Training
As the primary academic hospital of UCT, GSH plays a pivotal role in medical education. Our department is actively involved in training medical students, residents, and fellows in critical care medicine. We offer specialised courses and hands-on training programs designed to equip healthcare professionals with the skills necessary to excel in intensive care settings.
Research and Innovation
Our department is committed to advancing the field of critical care through innovative research. We have been instrumental in developing strategies to manage critical care services during challenging times, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Our experiences and findings have been documented to share valuable insights with the global medical community.
Our Team
Our multidisciplinary team includes leading experts in various fields of critical care:
-
Dr. Christel Arnold-Day: A neurosurgeon and full-time intensivist with a special interest in traumatic brain injury and advanced neuromonitoring.
-
Prof. Ivan Joubert: Head of Critical Care at GSH and UCT since 2008, with extensive experience in critical care management.
-
Dr. David Thomson: A critical care specialist and consultant surgeon in the Transplant Unit, focusing on organ donation and transplantation.
Contact Us
For more information about our services, educational programs, or research initiatives, please reach out to us through the University of Cape Town's Faculty of Health Sciences or Groote Schuur Hospital's main contact channels.