High-paid execs shown the door at LHSC
Critics of leadership at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) are calling the departure of two high paid executives a step in the right direction for getting its ballooning budget under control, and to earning the trust of the public.
LHSC confirms corporate executive Brad Campbell and Executive Sandra Smith are no longer with the organization, although it would not comment on the specifics of their departure.
According to Ontario’s Sunshine List, Brad Campbell was paid $475,423.13 in 2023, up 119 per cent from a year earlier when he was paid $217,007.13.
Smith was paid $244,249.20 in 2023. Her previous salary was not listed.
“The initial comment would be, it’s sort of about time,” said Ronald Breen.
A retiree and former LHSC board member, Breen made headlines last month when he withdrew a $1,000,000 legacy pledge to the London Health Sciences Foundation out of disgust over a ballooning budget deficit at LHSC, and the way the hospital was being governed by its current board.
Ronald Breen speaks to CTV News via virtual interview on Aug. 19, 2024. (Bryan Bicknell/CTV News London)
He said executive hires at the organization went unchallenged for too long under previous CEOs.
“The board was sort of absent in, you know, carrying out its fiduciary and governance responsibilities. There should have been push-back in terms of, you know, why is it that we’re laying on another level of senior management at significant cost,” said Breen.
The latest departures come as LHSC, under interim CEO David Musyj, attempts to slay a $150 million budget deficit projected for 2025.
Peter Bergmanis of the Ontario Health Care Coalition, a provincial healthcare watchdog, says many of the new executive hires, promotions, and six figure salary hikes have been coming at a time when those on the front lines of health care have been asked to do more with less.
Peter Bergmanis of the Ontario Health Coalition speaks with CTV News on Aug. 19, 2024. (Bryan Bicknell/CTV News London)
“There are so many frustrated frontline workers that have left the profession just because they’re fighting not only the pandemic, the under-resourcing, and then they’re fighting their own government for actually not getting enough to sustain their own lives. So, this is, you know, it’s more than due. I’m very happy that the new CEO is trying to do something positive,” commented Bergmanis.
LHSC would not agree to an interview with CTV News, but issued the following statement attributed to David Musyj:
“We have been clear about the ongoing management organizational structure review and benchmarking work that we have undertaken with the goal of identifying efficiencies and best practices that won’t compromise our ability to deliver high-quality care to patients and families. As we previously shared, this process will take between 90 and 120 days to complete, and we are in our third month of the process. LHSC will be communicating more information about the outcomes of the structural review as soon as we are able to do so.”
Breen said there’s no way of knowing how long it will take before the interim CEO can turn the ship around at LHSC, or if it can regain the trust of the public, but the latest moves are a good start.
“I’ll give Musyj credit in terms of, seemingly, his message is we need to adjust, we need to rationalize but we’re not going to impair the healthcare offering to the people walking through the front door,” said Breen.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian comedian, talk show host Mike Bullard dead at 67
Canadian stand-up comedian and former talk show host Mike Bullard has died.
Thousands of miles from home, Trudeau learns of dissension in his caucus
The free trade agreement with ASEAN is expected to be signed at the end of 2025. If Trudeau is pressured to step down, or if his government falls and loses the next election, Trudeau will not, as prime minister, be there to see the fruits of his labour.
Here's the dirt on the germiest items in your day-to-day life
Your home – considered to be one of the safest havens from all the external stresses – is filthy.
Should men and women eat different breakfasts? Study suggests they should
The study, which uses a mathematical model, indicates that men and women may benefit from different breakfast choices to optimize metabolism and potentially aid weight management.
Trump suggests a protester may get 'the hell knocked out of her' by her parents
Former U.S. president Donald Trump called for a protester at one of his rallies to 'go back home to Mommy' to 'get the hell knocked out of her,' his latest instance of using violent language when confronted by demonstrators.
Israel's military says 4 soldiers were killed in a Hezbollah drone attack
A Hezbollah drone attack on an army base in central Israel killed four soldiers and severely wounded seven others Sunday, the military said, in the deadliest strike by the militant group since Israel launched its ground invasion of Lebanon nearly two weeks ago.
Ukrainian journalist Victoria Roshchyna dies in Russian detention, Kyiv says
Ukrainian journalist Victoria Roshchyna, who went missing in an occupied part of her country, died in Russian detention last month, Ukrainian authorities said earlier this week.
Man charged after dead body found inside east Toronto apartment
Police have arrested and charged a 52-year-old man who wanted after failing to notify authorities about a dead person inside an apartment in Toronto’s Riverside neighbourhood.
Emaciated orca calf spotted off Vancouver Island, researchers say
Just a couple of weeks after a new southern resident killer whale calf was first seen, its health appears to have taken a bad turn.