Ageing population 'a threat to national health'

The average life expectancy in the UK is increasing at more than five hours daily, according to a new report published by the Academy of Medical Sciences.

In response to the growing longevity of the British population, health experts are concerned that higher life expectancy will place additional burden on the National Health Service (NHS) as more people live with chronic illness in old-age.

A spokesperson for Age Concern and Help the Aged said: "The [health] system, at present, was designed for a bygone age and it hasn't kept pace with the changing demographics.

"Now that the baby boomers are beginning to reach retirement, we are going to have to move quickly to adapt the NHS and indeed our medical research priorities, to reflect the needs of that change."

The latest figures from the Department for Work and Pensions show that at least 1.4 million pensioners are still working in retirement.

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