Internal memo reveals 'LHSC of tomorrow' includes dedicated mental health ER

London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) has unveiled its master plan to redesign the way the region's largest hospital network administers care.

An email outlining a number of future changes for LHSC was sent to staff on Wednesday. It comes at a time when the hospital network is dealing with record occupancy rates due to RSV, influenza and COVID-19, which forced the cancellation of non-emergent surgeries at Children's Hospital on Monday.

The plan to create the "LHSC of tomorrow" includes three guiding principles for operations. The first is grouping complementary types of care together, followed by strengthening partnerships with other hospitals and care providers, and then integrating research and teaching into every program.

"This is about grouping programs that just make sense together," said Jackie Schleifer Taylor, the president and CEO of LHSC in the email.

"It's about advancing accessibility, inclusion, health equity and innovation. It's about organizing expertise in care, teaching and research to drive the patient and staff experience forward."

Services will be grouped into three new units:

• Adult acute specialized care in a large, state-of-the-art emergency department.
• A dedicated mental health and addictions emergency department.
• A children's and obstetrical care centre.

The email to staff also said emphasis will be placed on exploring new ways of collaborating with the community, regional partners and the larger healthcare system, according to the memo.

"Not only will we ensure the best training for the health care providers of tomorrow, but we will better integrate research across the organization, accelerating the translation of research from bench to bedside and expanding patient access to clinical trials," Schleifer Taylor wrote to staff.

She said the planning team is still looking at facility designs and will be asking staff for feedback, a process she says will continue in early 2023. 

CBC News has reached out to LHSC for comment but no one was available at the time of publication. This story will be updated when a spokesperson is available.