Average Daily Emerg./Urg. Medical Census, 1993/94

According to the data, these high-pressure periods occur sometime between December and April, lasting about one to three weeks.
It is during these months that real overcrowding occurs; patients admitted to hospital stay on stretchers in emergency departments because all available beds are occupied. Why does this occur?

The increase in medical admissions corresponded to increases in influenza-associated illnesses (pneumonia, influenza, and additional respiratory conditions) in all of the years with identifiable high-pressure periods.

Thus, it appears that influenza-related illnesses place a great deal of pressure on the Winnipeg hospital system. What are the effects of bed closures on this problem?