LHSC losing 84 employees as vaccine mandate takes effect
The London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) says more than 99 per cent of staff and physicians are fully vaccinated, but 84 employees are being let go due to the mandatory vaccination policy.
LHSC Executive Vice-President Carol Young-Ritchie says, “These terminations are with cause. We put a policy in place, and our policy is fully enacted today. And for non-compliance with the policy we are terminating people with cause.”
In total, 99.8 per cent of physicians and 98.2 per cent of staff and are fully vaccinated, while an additional 81 staff are in the process of getting vaccinated, so the overall total is expected to land at 99.2 per cent.
Of the 43 clinical staff being dismissed, there are 33 nurses (16 full-time, 13 part-time, two job share and two casual) and fewer than five physicians who will lose privileges. An additional 41 non-clinical employees are being dismissed. The physicians are not included in the 84 people being let go.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Adam Dukelow said while it is a sad day at LHSC, the community can now be cared for in an even safer environment.
"Having over 99 per cent of our staff and physicians vaccinated will decrease our susceptibility to outbreaks, help avoid service interruptions, ensure we're able to care for as many patients as possible as we continue on the road to recovery from COVID-19."
LHSC has 9,148 staff in total, including around 4,000 nurses.
The losses are not expected to have a major impact, as officials say they are spread out across the organization and job types.
“This is a small number, when representative of our entire staff, and we do have some shortages to start with, but we’re not anticipating any impacts to services,” says Young-Ritchie.
A mandatory vaccination policy for hospital visitors is expected to be released next week.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.