New Somerset Hospital (NSH)
New Somerset Hospital (NSH) was the original academic hospital of the University of Cape Town prior to 1937, when Groote Schuur Hospital was built. NSH is located in Green Point, overlooking Cape Town Harbour and the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront.
Despite its name, NSH opened its doors in 1864, replacing the original Somerset Hospital in Chiapinni Street.
Anaesthesia Department
The anaesthesia team at NSH consists of four full-time specialists, including the Level-2 Head and the District Specialist for Metro West. All staff members hold academic positions as lecturers or senior lecturers and are Joint Staff with the University of Cape Town.
Anaesthesiologists rotate between the four hospitals in the Western Metro. The team at NSH brings current expertise in tertiary paediatric anaesthesia, along with specialised skills in adult critical care, endocrine, cardiothoracic, and neuroanaesthesia. Several members are current or past examiners for the DA, FCA I, and FCA II examinations.
The department includes:
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Five medical officers
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Three registrars
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Three to four interns at a time
In addition, the department trains UCT undergraduate students in their 4th and 6th-year anaesthetic blocks and regularly hosts foreign elective students for placements ranging from 2 to 16 weeks.
Surgical Services
NSH is a busy regional hospital, delivering surgery for 600 to 700 patients each month. The anaesthesia department supports a surgical team led by 13 specialist surgeons and their associated trainees.
Surgical disciplines covered include:
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General surgery
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Orthopaedics
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Urology
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ENT
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Gynaecology
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Obstetrics