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Manitoba’s health system is ramping up for respiratory virus season, a time when hospitals typically face significant strain from influenza, COVID-19, and RSV cases. 

What’s new: The government provided an update that they have opened and staffed 323 beds in the last two years, including 10 additional ICU beds this year. 

• Hospitals traditionally face a surge of admissions during respiratory season that strains their inpatient bed capacity, resulting in access block in ERs and longer wait times for patients. 

🩺 Between the lines: We called for more hospital capacity in our 2023 Prescription for Health Care, and we have seen the government respond by adding over 300 more beds in the two years since. We are still pursuing our other recommendations to adopt an appropriate bed capacity target so hospitals are better equipped to handle seasonal admission surges with fewer disruptions to surgery. 

• By the numbers:
  • 10 new ICU beds opened since April, including: 6 at HSC Children’s, 2 at St. Boniface and 2 at Grace hospitals. This is in addition to 17 more ICU beds, 8 PICU beds and 4 PICU step-down beds. 
  • 156 medicine beds 
  • 21 surgical beds 
  • 10 psychiatric beds 
  • 96 transitional care unit beds 
• Beds were added at HSC (+78), St. Boniface (+39), Grace (+33), Children’s (+12), as well as long term care facilities in Winnipeg plus hospitals in Selkirk, St. Boniface, Brandon, Ashern, and Dauphin. 

Focus on Prevention Too

Public health officials are urging Manitobans to take preventive steps, including vaccination, to reduce seasonal illness spread. 

• “These are simple, effective ways to protect yourself, your loved ones and our health-care system,” said Chief Provincial Public Health Officer Dr. Brent Roussin. 

💉 Every physician can help: In your practice, reinforce the importance of prevention including safe and effective vaccines for flu, COVID, pneumococcal, and RSV. 

• Remind every patient and treat their questions and concerns respectfully to maintain the trust. Remember a ​“no” today isn’t necessarily a ​“no” tomorrow. 
• Offer vaccines in your practice or refer patients to get one at their local clinic. Tips on where to find vaccines are posted at Get​tingHealthy​.ca.
• Remember RSV: protection is free for seniors 60+ living in long-term care and for infants born between Oct. 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026, or in high risk groups. 
• Print and post this signage for clinics from our Vaccine Program Updates page.