About the Hospital

Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, located in Cape Town, South Africa, is a leading tertiary paediatric hospital. Established in 1956 as a tribute to soldiers lost in the Second World War, the hospital has since become a centre of excellence in specialist paediatric care. It serves children from across South Africa and receives referrals from other African nations for advanced paediatric medical services.

​The Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital (RCWMCH) in Cape Town has achieved several notable firsts in surgical and anaesthetic care since its establishment in 1956. Here are some of these pioneering milestones.

  1. Introduction of Halothane Anaesthesia (1957): RCWMCH was among the early adopters of halothane, a new inhalational anaesthetic agent at the time, enhancing the safety and efficacy of paediatric anaesthesia. ​.

  2. Positive Pressure Ventilation During Polio Epidemic (1956/7): In response to the polio epidemic, the hospital implemented positive pressure ventilation techniques, improving respiratory support for affected children. ​.

  3. Use of Curare for Infant Tetanus (Late 1950s): The administration of curare, a muscle relaxant, for ventilating infants with tetanus significantly reduced mortality rates from 90% to 20%, and later to 10%. .

  4. Development of Paediatric-Specific Anaesthetic Equipment: The hospital played a crucial role in designing and adapting anaesthetic equipment tailored for children, enhancing the safety of paediatric anaesthesia.

  5. First Cardiac Operation (1958): RCWMCH performed its inaugural cardiac surgery on 6 August 1958, correcting an aortic coarctation in an 11-year-old patient. ​.

  6. Separation of Conjoined Twins: The hospital has successfully conducted multiple complex surgeries to separate conjoined twins, showcasing its expertise in paediatric surgical care. ​

These milestones underscore RCWMCH's commitment to advancing paediatric surgical and anaesthetic practices, significantly contributing to improved child healthcare in Africa and globally.

Division of Paediatric Anaesthesia 

The Department of Paediatric Anaesthesia at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital is one of the busiest in Africa, performing approximately 10,000 anaesthetic procedures each year. Our team provides expert anaesthesia services across a wide range of paediatric specialties, including:

  • Cardiothoracic Surgery
  • OrganTransplantation
  • Burns Management
  • Neurosurgery
  • General Surgery
  • Orthopaedics
  • Ophthalmology
  • ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat)
  • Urology
  • Plastic Surgery
  • Paediatric Sedation

Training & Fellowship Opportunities

We offer extensive training in paediatric anaesthesia, catering to both local and international medical professionals. Training programs include hands-on experience in multiple surgical specialties, as well as structured fellowship opportunities for supernumerary fellows from South Africa and abroad.

Facilities & Services

The hospital features:

  • 8 main operating theatres
  • A dedicated day surgery theatre
  • A trauma theatre

Additionally, our department provides anaesthesia services for:

  • Radiology
  • Cardiology
  • Radiotherapy
  • Chronic pain management
  • Elective paediatric orthopaedic surgery

Our Team

The department consists of:

  • 6 permanent paediatric anaesthetists
  • Up to 3 rotating consultant anaesthetists
  • 6 registrars from the University of Cape Town’s Department of Anaesthesia

Simulation-Based Training & MEPA Centre

Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital is one of only two Managing Emergencies in Paediatric Anaesthesia (MEPA) Centres in Africa. We host regular simulation-based training workshops to enhance paediatric anaesthesia skills and emergency response capabilities.

For more information on training opportunities or referrals, please contact us.