London, Ontario hospital president ousted after international travel

A hospital network in London, Ont., has fired its president after he travelled abroad several times during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a press release issued on Monday.

Dr. Paul Woods, the president of the London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC), travelled to the US five times since March. The most recent trip Woods made was from December 19 to 25.

Woods lives alone, and he made these trips to visit his immediate family in the US. Woods followed public health guidelines and mitigated risk by driving across the border, staying in one place while in the US, and quarantining upon his return.

His travels came to light on Friday. The board of directors at the LHSC said in a press release at the time that they supported his continued leadership as president.

He apologized on Friday for his decision to visit family in the US.

"What I can do is take accountability for my decision to visit with immediate family out-of-country and fully apologize," he said. “Please accept my deepest regret for my actions.”

The board of directors said in their press release on Monday that they have since changed their mind, ending Woods’ employment.

"The board’s responsibility is to act in the best interests of LHSC and the communities it serves, and this decision responds to hospital and community concerns about recent news of Dr. Woods’ travel outside Canada during the pandemic," said the board of directors’ press release. "It has become clear that this situation has affected the confidence of staff, physicians and the community in Dr. Woods’ leadership."

The board of directors did not have advance notice of Woods’ trips, and they did not approve his travel.

The interim president will be announced in the coming days.

Woods’ most recent travel took place when the LHSC was experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak. The number of deaths and new procedures in place forced the pathology unit to use a refrigerated trailer to store bodies.

Woods is among the numerous public officials in Ontario to be caught travelling abroad when the Canadian government advises against it. Ajax MPP Rod Phillips resigned as minister of finance after he travelled outside of Ontario to go on a vacation to a Caribbean island. Halton Regional Police Chief Stephen Tanner was caught taking a vacation in Florida.