If your condition is deemed to be acute you would gain immediate access to a hospital bed, if not you will be put on a waiting list. For example if someone had a heart attack they would be immediately admitted to a public hospital until they stabilised but could then be put on a waiting list for a heart bypass. Another example is someone being diagnosed with cancer and being put on a waiting list for treatment. The problem in both of these examples is that the longer it takes to have treatment or surgery the higher the chances of complications and/or death.