LHSC boss hopeful fraud probe doesn’t result in criminal charges

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London Health Sciences Centre’s provincially appointed supervisor is hoping a fraud probe by police involving the hospital won’t lead to criminal charges, as LHSC seeks public input to help shape its future.

LHSC, which was put under provincial supervision in late September over its concerning financial performance, is hoping to fix the issues and move beyond the “the distractions of the past,” supervisor David Musyj said Wednesday at a scheduled community update.

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“We are hopeful this investigation will not lead to any criminal charges, but ultimately, that is London Police Service’s expertise,” Musyj said.

The fraud investigation, which was launched weeks ago after the hospital approached London police, involves past financial practices at LHSC. An unnamed hospital source previously told The Free Press the police probe involves “multiple fronts, with multiple people.”

Declining to provide further specifics about the ongoing criminal investigation, Musyj said police have been “very responsive and very helpful” to date, adding the probe will unfold over several months.

“We’re working with them and providing the information that they’re asking for. I know they are actively investigating,” he said.

As part of its work to rebound from past financial and governance issues – including executive travel and compensation scandals – LHSC on Wednesday launched a community survey to gather feedback from Londoners on their experiences at the hospital and areas they think need improvement.

The anonymous survey, a project by LHSC’s 10-person community advisory committee, is available in seven languages and is available on the hospital’s website.

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The committee, which provides direct advice and feedback to LHSC brass, has also launched a survey for LHSC staff.

“Our goal is to have over 5,000 responses to the internal survey, and we’re hoping for well over 1,000 community responses,” said Tania Testa, vice-president of communications and community and patient engagement.

“We’re looking for a broad set of responses with respect to how people feel when they come into LHSC, the care they receive and, on the staff side, how they feel during the course of their workday and whether they have everything they need to do their job properly.”

Musyj also committed Wednesday to livestreaming future meetings of LHSC’s board of directors – once the governance body is reconstituted – and making the recordings available afterward to enhance public transparency.

In the past, LHSC’s board of directors published just the agenda and minutes of its regularly scheduled, in-person meetings on its website.

LHSC’s board of directors voluntarily resigned in late September, when Musyj was appointed supervisor of the hospital by Queen’s Park.

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The appointment of a new board will not happen for many months, Musyj said Wednesday, pending the completion of a detailed organizational review.

“That part is definitely not a race. Before the new board is constituted, that we examine why I’m here as supervisor and what led to me being here,” Musyj said.

The review involves a deep-dive into the board’s committee structures, LHSC’s bylaws and other governance rules that is expected to take until at least March 2025, he said. The process to reestablish the board will begin after.

“In typical supervisory roles, it’s usually a solid year before the board of directors is reconstituted,” Musyj said.

The board, when selected, will report directly to Musyj until the end of his 18-month term as supervisor.

jbieman@postmedia.com
@JenatLFPress

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