Master Plan

Reimagining health care: A new Master Plan for LHSC

In early 2022, London Health Sciences Centre embarked on the beginning of a visionary and ambitious journey to reimagine, redesign and redevelop the future of health care. Over several months, we have already engaged nearly 3,000 people from across the communities we serve, 36 partner organizations in health care, research, education, municipal leadership and community support, and more than 1,000 members of Team LHSC. We are also conducting comprehensive research and modelling, including population projections, economic forecasts, technological outlooks, national and international trends and environmental impacts.

This research and feedback have already been invaluable to the development of LHSC’s Master Plan – our blueprint for how we deliver health care over the next 10, 20 and 30 years. It’s the first step in a process to redesign how we deliver care within and outside of our walls, including the physical structure of our buildings.

The Eight Principles of Master Planning

During the planning process, we are following these eight key principles:

	Patients Create exemplary patient and family care experiences Apply a patient-centered lens to providing innovative care Advance safe and effective care
	Our People Cultivate an environment that enables staff and physicians to achieve purpose through meaningful work Invite and retain the workforce of the future to drive care forward Promote joy and wellness across Team LHSC
	Our Mandate Fulfill our unique role in health system leadership Balance our community hospital and specialized centre responsibilities Reinforce the Children’s Hospital unique identity Contribute to evaluating effectiveness and sustainability of the regional, provincial and national health ecosystem Inform health policy research and best practice
	Equity Embed the principles of equity, accessibility and inclusion in all our work Remove access barriers for marginalized populations Create a welcoming and culturally safe environment for care and work
	Innovation Drive innovation in service delivery, population health and digital care Contribute to an integrated health care system Advance population health and societal wellness Reduce wait times through optimized efficiency
	Teaching & Research Weave research and teaching through every aspect of care Build research capabilities and improve access to clinical trials Establish leading-edge training opportunities for tomorrow’s health care providers
	Partnerships Build strong partnerships within the communities we serve Recognize our role as a pillar in the community Collaborate with system partners and community organizations
	Planetary Health Promote environmental sustainability in all we do Establish sustainable facilities Reduce our carbon footprint

Download Eight Master Planning Principals PDF.

What We Heard: Five Key Themes

There are five key themes to what we heard during our engagement with you:

	System Integration and Communication The need for a better-integrated system of care and more patient support across the care continuum The need to formalize and strengthen processes, tables, and connections for collaboration and engagement with community partners
	Enhancing Accessibility and Inclusivity within the Hospital Network The need to improve the experience of getting to and navigating the hospital site The need to expand care options that are culturally reflective of the patient base
	Wait Times and Staffing Shortages The need to develop a plan that will improve emergency department wait times and appointment times The immediate need to deal with staffing challenges including shortages and burnout
	Mental Health and Reducing Stigma The need to expand mental health services for both children and adults The need to reduce stigma around vulnerable populations and provide a trauma-informed and harm reduction approach to care
	Proactively Preparing for Future Health Needs The need to further enhance services for an aging population The need to redesign care so that more care is delivered outside of traditional hospitals

Download Five Key Themes PDF.

Next Steps

Your feedback has been invaluable to our planning. But the work does not stop here. Master Planning is a journey – one that offers a unique opportunity to build the world-class, inclusive health system that the community expects and deserves. Our commitment is steadfast as our planning and research continue with the following next steps:

Research and engagement: The magnitude of change required is significant, but we’re prepared to undertake it. We are using our planning grant from the Ministry of Health – funding that is specific to Master Planning – to conduct robust research and engagement. That includes continued engagement with you, our teams and our partners, as well as focusing heavily on innovations that have been successful in other health systems, nearby and around the world.
Options for our future facilities: In early 2023, we will have options for how our facilities may look in the future.
Master Plan submission: Our final Master Plan will be submitted to the Ministry of Health and Ontario Health in July 2023.