Groote Schuur Hospital
Unclaimed Business
|1.6|12 Reviews (last 12 months)|This business does not respond to reviews
Groote Schuur Hospital
Unclaimed Business
|1.6
12 Reviews (last 12 months)
Does not respond to reviews
AI Review Summary
Based on recent customer reviews, Groote Schuur Hospital receives predominantly negative feedback centred on patient care and communication. Customers consistently mention poor communication from doctors and nursing staff, with families struggling to obtain clear updates on diagnoses and treatment plans. A recurring theme is concerns around hygiene in restrooms and wards, alongside perceived staff indifference, dismissive attitudes, and delayed responses to patient distress. Some reviewers acknowledge that staff are overworked and highlight individual acts of genuine care, particularly in specialist wards, but these positive experiences are overshadowed by distressing accounts of neglect.
Performance(last 12 months):
Trustindex Rating
2.5TrustIndex
2.5
Review Distribution
1.6|12 Reviews
Jul '25 - Jun '26
Recent reviews (12)
Used this business recently? Share your experience to help others decide.
Used this business recently? Share your experience to help others decide.
Share Your ExperienceA
Anonymous
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
7 May 2026, 10:30
Hospital Treatment & Communication
My mother was transferred to Groote Schuur Hospital during the early hours of 26 April (approximately 3am–4am) for further scans after X-rays revealed two fractured vertebrae. What followed has been extremely distressing and deeply concerning for our family. Upon arrival, my mother’s catheter was already full, yet it was only emptied and replaced at the end of the day. Despite being in severe pain with spinal fractures, she only received pain medication at approximately 3pm–4pm, many hours after admission. After the MRI, my mother was initially informed that she had one fractured vertebra and one broken vertebra. A week later, one of the specialists involved in her care advised her that she could begin sitting up. Shockingly, the very next day, the doctor from the Trauma Unit reviewed her file and contradicted this advice entirely, instructing her not to move because she in fact had two broken vertebrae, although he stated the condition was stable. The conflicting information provided regarding such a serious spinal injury has left my mother frightened, confused, and uncertain about her condition. During this period, my mother also developed an infection. She was advised that treatment could not commence until urine test results were received. As a result, she suffered for an entire week without treatment for the infection. She was further informed that both urine and blood tests would be conducted; however, when the results became available, the only explanation provided was that the doctor was unhappy with one of the blood test results and therefore supplements needed to be administered via a drip. Further blood tests were also ordered. Despite repeatedly asking for clarity and constructive feedback regarding her condition, the purpose of the tests, and the medication being administered, my mother has continuously been brushed off. She is repeatedly told that the doctor will return to explain matters, but this rarely happens. To date, she still has no understanding of what blood tests were conducted, why additional testing was required, or what the medical team is investigating. While we are grateful that investigations and testing are being carried out, it is fundamentally a patient’s right to understand their medical condition, why tests are being performed, and why specific medication or treatment is being prescribed. We fully appreciate that this is a public hospital operating under immense pressure and treating a high volume of patients. However, this does not make it acceptable for patients and their families to be left uninformed, confused, and distressed during what is already an extremely traumatic experience.
Helpful (0)
|Replies (0)A
Anonymous
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
7 May 2026, 10:30
Hospital Treatment & Communication
My mother was transferred to Groote Schuur Hospital during the early hours of 26 April (approximately 3am–4am) for further scans after X-rays revealed two fractured vertebrae. What followed has been extremely distressing and deeply concerning for our family. Upon arrival, my mother’s catheter was already full, yet it was only emptied and replaced at the end of the day. Despite being in severe pain with spinal fractures, she only received pain medication at approximately 3pm–4pm, many hours after admission. After the MRI, my mother was initially informed that she had one fractured vertebra and one broken vertebra. A week later, one of the specialists involved in her care advised her that she could begin sitting up. Shockingly, the very next day, the doctor from the Trauma Unit reviewed her file and contradicted this advice entirely, instructing her not to move because she in fact had two broken vertebrae, although he stated the condition was stable. The conflicting information provided regarding such a serious spinal injury has left my mother frightened, confused, and uncertain about her condition. During this period, my mother also developed an infection. She was advised that treatment could not commence until urine test results were received. As a result, she suffered for an entire week without treatment for the infection. She was further informed that both urine and blood tests would be conducted; however, when the results became available, the only explanation provided was that the doctor was unhappy with one of the blood test results and therefore supplements needed to be administered via a drip. Further blood tests were also ordered. Despite repeatedly asking for clarity and constructive feedback regarding her condition, the purpose of the tests, and the medication being administered, my mother has continuously been brushed off. She is repeatedly told that the doctor will return to explain matters, but this rarely happens. To date, she still has no understanding of what blood tests were conducted, why additional testing was required, or what the medical team is investigating. While we are grateful that investigations and testing are being carried out, it is fundamentally a patient’s right to understand their medical condition, why tests are being performed, and why specific medication or treatment is being prescribed. We fully appreciate that this is a public hospital operating under immense pressure and treating a high volume of patients. However, this does not make it acceptable for patients and their families to be left uninformed, confused, and distressed during what is already an extremely traumatic experience.
0
Replies (0)A
Anonymous
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
6 Feb 2026, 19:46
POOR HYGIENE AND LACK OF BASIC FACILITIES
Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing to formally lodge a complaint regarding the unhygienic conditions and lack of basic facilities I experienced during my visit to Groote Schuur Hospital’s Emergency Unit today. I rushed directly from work to attend to my sister in the Emergency Unit and did not have the opportunity to use the restroom beforehand. Upon arriving at the hospital, I went to use the toilet and was shocked by the conditions. The toilet smelled extremely bad and had no toilet paper, no hand sanitizer, and no soap available. In addition, there were no toilet seats, which further added to the unhygienic and undignified conditions. I approached security at the checkpoint to report the issue and was advised to go to the security desk. The staff at the desk stated that they could not assist as they were security personnel. I then requested that they contact the necessary cleaning staff; however, their attitude felt dismissive and unhelpful, which was very disappointing given the circumstances. After several back-and-forth discussions, security staff checked the men’s toilets as well, only to find that they also had no toilet paper. Eventually, I was given paper towels and advised to use them and dispose of them in the sanitary bin. This is completely unacceptable and unhygienic, particularly in a hospital environment where infection control should be a top priority. What made the situation even more concerning was the absence of any visible cleaning staff in the area. The hygiene standards I encountered were extremely poor and far below what one would expect from a major hospital. Groote Schuur Hospital urgently needs to address these issues and ensure that proper hygiene measures and basic supplies are consistently in place. I trust this matter will be taken seriously and look forward to hearing what steps will be taken to prevent a recurrence.
Helpful (0)
|Replies (0)A
Anonymous
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
6 Feb 2026, 19:46
POOR HYGIENE AND LACK OF BASIC FACILITIES
Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing to formally lodge a complaint regarding the unhygienic conditions and lack of basic facilities I experienced during my visit to Groote Schuur Hospital’s Emergency Unit today. I rushed directly from work to attend to my sister in the Emergency Unit and did not have the opportunity to use the restroom beforehand. Upon arriving at the hospital, I went to use the toilet and was shocked by the conditions. The toilet smelled extremely bad and had no toilet paper, no hand sanitizer, and no soap available. In addition, there were no toilet seats, which further added to the unhygienic and undignified conditions. I approached security at the checkpoint to report the issue and was advised to go to the security desk. The staff at the desk stated that they could not assist as they were security personnel. I then requested that they contact the necessary cleaning staff; however, their attitude felt dismissive and unhelpful, which was very disappointing given the circumstances. After several back-and-forth discussions, security staff checked the men’s toilets as well, only to find that they also had no toilet paper. Eventually, I was given paper towels and advised to use them and dispose of them in the sanitary bin. This is completely unacceptable and unhygienic, particularly in a hospital environment where infection control should be a top priority. What made the situation even more concerning was the absence of any visible cleaning staff in the area. The hygiene standards I encountered were extremely poor and far below what one would expect from a major hospital. Groote Schuur Hospital urgently needs to address these issues and ensure that proper hygiene measures and basic supplies are consistently in place. I trust this matter will be taken seriously and look forward to hearing what steps will be taken to prevent a recurrence.
0
Replies (0)A
A
Anonymous
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
13 Nov 2025, 08:38
Address is ALL for Grootte Schuur
My 66 year old husband has no medical aid, suffers from severe gluten allergy, had been diagnosed with a "mass" in his liver and needed treatment. I heard good things about Grootte Schuur, tried via our GP to be admitted, and....NO. WE DO NOT LIVE AT THE RIGHT ADDRESS. Seriously? I mean SERIOUSLY. In this day and age, we actually have some snobbery going on at a Provincial Hospital? We're not riff raff off the streets, we live in Durbanville and would've paid cash. But no, the ADDRESS. Prof Barnard is probably turning in his grave....
Helpful (0)
|Replies (0)A
Anonymous
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
13 Nov 2025, 08:38
Address is ALL for Grootte Schuur
My 66 year old husband has no medical aid, suffers from severe gluten allergy, had been diagnosed with a "mass" in his liver and needed treatment. I heard good things about Grootte Schuur, tried via our GP to be admitted, and....NO. WE DO NOT LIVE AT THE RIGHT ADDRESS. Seriously? I mean SERIOUSLY. In this day and age, we actually have some snobbery going on at a Provincial Hospital? We're not riff raff off the streets, we live in Durbanville and would've paid cash. But no, the ADDRESS. Prof Barnard is probably turning in his grave....
0
Replies (0)A
Anonymous
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
13 Nov 2025, 04:07
From food to bad
They gone from good to bad. Most of their staff are genuine, however their admin staff are bad. Doesn't matter who you email, they don't respond to your mail. You must live half blind, can't get a appointment for a eye operation, was even willing to pay extra for that and the reason for not getting a appointment from them was that it is not a emergency, pathetic . They becoming just like the state hospital's in Jo'burg
Helpful (0)
|Replies (0)A
Anonymous
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
13 Nov 2025, 04:07
From food to bad
They gone from good to bad. Most of their staff are genuine, however their admin staff are bad. Doesn't matter who you email, they don't respond to your mail. You must live half blind, can't get a appointment for a eye operation, was even willing to pay extra for that and the reason for not getting a appointment from them was that it is not a emergency, pathetic . They becoming just like the state hospital's in Jo'burg
0
Replies (0)A
Anonymous
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
19 Sept 2025, 13:33
Disgusting staff behaviour
I would formally like to write this email to complain about the disgusting behavior from your staff towards my mom while she was at your ICU ward. While majority of your staff have been amazing, yesterday morning on the 18 September 2025 my mom had a stint put into her artery and was wheeled to the room after 11 am. She was still bleeding and was just given a cloth by your day staff who told her to wipe her own blood. When we visited her last night at 7 pm the blood was visible on the sheets which one of the night staff had to then remove and give my mom and clean sheet. My mom has just been released from hospital and was just left out on the road without making sure that there is anyone to receive my mom. She has been advised by the doctor not to move by the doctor as she needs to heal. I dont understand ehy staff who chose to be in the health care field does not give a damn about their patients.
Helpful (0)
|Replies (0)A
Anonymous
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
19 Sept 2025, 13:33
Disgusting staff behaviour
I would formally like to write this email to complain about the disgusting behavior from your staff towards my mom while she was at your ICU ward. While majority of your staff have been amazing, yesterday morning on the 18 September 2025 my mom had a stint put into her artery and was wheeled to the room after 11 am. She was still bleeding and was just given a cloth by your day staff who told her to wipe her own blood. When we visited her last night at 7 pm the blood was visible on the sheets which one of the night staff had to then remove and give my mom and clean sheet. My mom has just been released from hospital and was just left out on the road without making sure that there is anyone to receive my mom. She has been advised by the doctor not to move by the doctor as she needs to heal. I dont understand ehy staff who chose to be in the health care field does not give a damn about their patients.
0
Replies (0)A
Anonymous
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
30 Aug 2025, 16:36
No Compassion.
Disgusting, classist and unacceptable behaviour from nursing staff. Making an already difficult experience worse due to their lack of care and visble contempt shown towards patients. Appears that there is no oversight regarding them as this behaviour persists. Would not recommend if you can help it.
Helpful (0)
|Replies (0)A
Anonymous
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
30 Aug 2025, 16:36
No Compassion.
Disgusting, classist and unacceptable behaviour from nursing staff. Making an already difficult experience worse due to their lack of care and visble contempt shown towards patients. Appears that there is no oversight regarding them as this behaviour persists. Would not recommend if you can help it.
0
Replies (0)A
Anonymous
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
28 Aug 2025, 10:40
Hooray to Groote Shuur - Show them the way
I recently visited a family member at the hospital eye ward and was really impressed by how the hospital has changed since my father was there may years ago. At that time there was a laz, i work for the government approach. This time the nurses were delightful and showed that spirit of care which is very important in healthcare. To the management and all involved....this is a job well done. You guys make us feel proud and valued as South Africans....THANK YOU!
Helpful (0)
|Replies (0)A
Anonymous
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
28 Aug 2025, 10:40
Hooray to Groote Shuur - Show them the way
I recently visited a family member at the hospital eye ward and was really impressed by how the hospital has changed since my father was there may years ago. At that time there was a laz, i work for the government approach. This time the nurses were delightful and showed that spirit of care which is very important in healthcare. To the management and all involved....this is a job well done. You guys make us feel proud and valued as South Africans....THANK YOU!
0
Replies (0)