It was founded in 1938 and is famous for being the institution where the first human-to-human heart transplant took place, conducted by University of Cape Town-educated surgeon Christiaan Barnard on the patient Louis Washkansky.

Groote Schuur is the chief academic hospital of the University of Cape Town's medical school, providing tertiary care and instruction in all the major branches of medicine.

Groote Schuur attracts many visiting medical students, residents and specialists each year who come to gain experience in various fields.

As December 2006, the hospital employed over 500 doctors, 1300 nurses and 250 allied health professionals.

[3] The N2, merged with the M3, bends around the hospital and Table Mountain National Park on a massive uphill 10-lane highway.