Committees are an important element of a board's governance processes that aid it in the fulfillment of its governance role. The general rule is that a board establishes the committees that are required by it to assist with the work of the board. Accordingly, the number of committees, their terms of reference and composition, can all be decided upon by the board in the exercise of its discretion; except where specific committees are required by law.
In addition, all committees, through their governance responsibilities, will continue to build on the priority of the hospital to provide respectful, compassionate, culturally appropriate, and competent care that supports mutually beneficial partnerships between clients, families, and London Health Sciences Centre.
- Review the full Board Committees chart.
LHSC’s Committees:
Executive Committee
Primary Role: Acts with delegated Board authority only in exceptional circumstances where the full Board cannot convene.
Key Responsibilities:
- Make time-sensitive administrative decisions (within statutory limits).
- Coordinate Board leadership (Board Chair, Vice Chairs, Committee Chairs).
- Ensure rapid response capability in urgent governance situations.
Finance and Audit Committee
Primary Role: Oversight of LHSC’s financial performance, budgets, assets, risk, internal controls, and external audit.
Key Responsibilities:
- Review and recommend annual operating and capital budgets.
- Monitor financial results, variances, and corrective action plans.
- Oversee long-term financial planning and sustainability.
- Review asset management and major capital approvals.
- Oversee external auditors, audit results, and independence.
- Monitor internal controls, fraud prevention, and financial risks.
- Oversee compliance with accounting, legal, and disclosure requirements.
Medical Advisory Committee
Primary Role: Provides formal oversight and recommendations regarding professional staff, quality of care, credentialing, physician leadership, and clinical governance matters.
Key Responsibilities:
- Oversees credentialing, appointment, and reappointment of professional staff.
- Advises the Board on quality of care and clinical performance.
- Reviews physician conduct, privileges, and professional practice matters.
- Supports clinical leadership accountability and medical governance.
- Identifies and escalates systemic clinical quality or patient safety concerns.
Quality and Safety Committee (ECAA Quality Committee)
Primary Role: Statutory quality committee under the Excellent Care for All Act (ECAA).
Key Responsibilities:
- Monitor quality of care and patient safety.
- Review indicators, critical incidents, sentinel events, and MAC reports.
- Recommend quality improvement priorities and policies.
- Oversee Quality Improvement Plan (QIP).
- Review professional staff appointment/reappointment processes.
- Assess risk, emergency preparedness, and accreditation readiness.
Governance and Nominating Committee
Primary Role: Leads corporate governance oversight, Board effectiveness, and Director succession planning.
Key Responsibilities:
- Recommend Board composition, recruitment, skills matrix, and appointments.
- Review Board bylaws and policy manual.
- Oversee Board orientation, evaluation, and continuing education.
- Oversee conflicts of interest for Directors and senior management.
- Advise on governance reviews, committee structures, and best practices.
Human Resources Committee
Primary Role: Oversight of CEO performance, executive compensation, labour relations, workforce strategy, culture, EDI, wellness, and safety.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead CEO recruitment, evaluation, compensation, and succession planning.
- Oversee organizational design, staffing models, and workforce planning.
- Review labour relations strategies and collective bargaining mandates.
- Oversee culture, ethics, code of conduct, and EDI initiatives.
- Monitor Occupational Health and Safety metrics, workplace safety, and staff well-being.
- Evaluate leadership development and training programs.
Research Committee
Primary Role: Oversight of LHSC's research enterprise, including strategy, commercialization, talent, compliance, and risk.
Key Responsibilities:
- Monitor performance against the research strategy.
- Review commercialization activities and intellectual property strategy.
- Oversee research financial sustainability and joint recommendations with Finance & Audit.
- Review research risks, funding dependencies, and compliance with regulators.
- Oversee research policies and alignment with academic partners (e.g., Western University).
Fiscal Advisory Committee (Required under Regulation 965 of the Public Hospitals Act)
Primary Role: Provide advice on operations, staffing, and resource allocation from a multidisciplinary staff perspective.
Key Responsibilities:
- Recommend to the Board on operation, use, and staffing of the hospital.
- Provide advice from union, nursing, medical/dental, and staff representatives.
- Support consultation with internal stakeholders on fiscal issues.
