Ryan Bridge: We're all living much longer - but at what cost? - Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

We're all living much longer, aren't we? At what cost? That's my question for you this morning.

A report out over the weekend found human life expectancy has just about peaked globally.

It's lights out. Goodbye.  

New Zealand men, you'll make 80, women, you'll make 83, which is great, longer life. Everyone wants one right now.

We're told that we also have a health system in crisis.

People waiting in waiting rooms, they can't afford to see a GP. Over the weekend, I read about a family man, a carpenter from Westport who was sent home, hours later he was dead.

In Rotorua a month ago, remember a man died in the waiting room at the emergency department while waiting.

So we don't have enough resources for health or we're not optimising the resources that we do have to meet the needs and we're being overwhelmed by them.

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