The number of patients treated, has not been adversely affected by downsizing; just as many patients were cared for in 1996/97 as prior to bed closures, with fewer resources. This was accomplished by a shift in the way care is delivered:
- number of days in hospital decreased dramatically 
   (more than a 19% drop for short-stay cases)
- Winnipeg residents received more surgery in 1996/97 than they did in 1991/92: 
- more outpatient and fewer inpatient procedures, 
- significantly shorter stays for surgical inpatients. 
- As the figure shows, access to specific high profile procedures such as coronary artery bypass, cataract surgery and knee replacement increased dramatically, by as much as 118% in the case of knee replacement.
- Non-Winnipeg residents also retained high rates of access to Winnipeg hospitals, as measured by number of cases treated, & rate of high intensity admissions (tertiary care)