A struggle to secure GP visits could be playing a role in skyrocketing calls for ambulances. 

National ambulance data shows there's been a 30% increase in 111 calls for ambulances over the past five years.  

St John fielded more than 700 thousand calls for the first time last year and attended more than half a million incidents.  

Ambulance Association National Secretary Mark Quinn told Ryan Bridge minimal access to healthcare in rural areas is playing a role. 

He says St John is sometimes used as a "pseudo-GP" because it's the only access to health operating in the area. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

A struggle to secure GP visits could be playing a role in skyrocketing calls for ambulances.&nbsp;
National ambulance data shows there's been a 30% increase in 111 calls for ambulances over the past five years. &nbsp;
St John fielded more than 700 thousand calls for the first time last year and attended more than half a million incidents. &nbsp;
Ambulance Association National Secretary Mark Quinn told Ryan Bridge minimal access to healthcare in rural areas is playing a role.&nbsp;
He says St John is sometimes used as a "pseudo-GP" because it's the only access to health operating in the area.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Mark Quinn: Ambulance Association National Secretary on the rising number of calls for ambulances

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/7cc9e694-d3d4-4d91-8d4d-b3e00161c96d/transcript

The US and Iran are trading threats, with the President warning a massive naval armada is moving towards the country. 

Donald Trump says time's running out for Iran to make a deal to limit its nuclear programme. 

The BBC reports satellite images show a steady and significant build-up of US military forces in the region since a brutal crackdown on demonstrations in Iran earlier this month. 

US Correspondent Jagruiti Dave told Ryan Bridge Iran's mission to the United Nations has responded to Trump's latest warning. 

She says they're ready for dialogue based on mutual respect, but if pushed it'll defend itself and respond like never before. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

The US and Iran are trading threats, with the President warning a massive naval armada is moving towards the country.&nbsp;
Donald Trump says time's running out for Iran to make a deal to limit its nuclear programme.&nbsp;
The BBC reports satellite images show a steady and significant build-up of US military forces in the region since a brutal crackdown on demonstrations in Iran earlier this month.&nbsp;
US Correspondent Jagruiti Dave told Ryan Bridge Iran's mission to the United Nations has responded to Trump's latest warning.&nbsp;
She says they're ready for dialogue based on mutual respect, but if pushed it'll defend itself and respond like never before.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Jagruiti Dave: US Correspondent on the increased tensions between the US and Iran, Trump's latest threats

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/63653ba7-d330-420e-89d4-b3e00162eeb6/transcript

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday 29th of January 2025, new numbers show Labour's "fees free" wasn't all that it was supposed to be, VUWSA Vice President Aidan Donoghue tells Ryan what it did for students. 

ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley shares his thoughts on a housing sentiment survey from Cotality. 

Demand for ambulance's was the highest on record last year according to stats from St John, New Zealand Ambulance Association National Secretary Mark Quin tells Ryan why demand has increased. 

Plus, US Correspondent Jagruti Dave has the latest on Donald Trump’s latest threat to Iran and layoffs at Amazon. 

Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.          

LISTEN ABOVE  

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday 29th of January 2025, new numbers show Labour's "fees free" wasn't all that it was supposed to be, VUWSA Vice President Aidan Donoghue tells Ryan what it did for students.&nbsp;
ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley shares his thoughts on a housing sentiment survey from Cotality.&nbsp;
Demand for ambulance's was the highest on record last year according to stats from St John, New Zealand Ambulance Association National Secretary Mark Quin tells Ryan why demand has increased.&nbsp;
Plus, US Correspondent Jagruti Dave has the latest on Donald Trump’s latest threat to Iran and layoffs at Amazon.&nbsp;
Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE &nbsp;

Full Show Podcast: 29 January 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/b104d5a4-efbb-4f60-a9b0-b3e0011a973b/transcript

Reading this story this morning about Fees Free, you've got to wonder how the policy got through the boffins in Wellington. 

It has, by all accounts, failed to achieve it's objective. 

Did we see floods of people charging into lecture halls and studying at university? No.

Did we see loads of poorer students benefit? No.

What did it cost us, again? $2.6 billion. $350 million last year alone. 

That's one and half brand new Dunedin hospitals. 

This is what it got us:

No increase in participation. 230 students from poor schools were helped. That's 1.3%.

A whopping 70% of the kids who had their university fees paid for (up to $12,000 each) were from above-average socio-economic schools. They were the wealthier kids. 

Did they need it? No. 

I've always backed the interest-free student loan idea. You can borrow, not stress about interest, and work hard to pay it down once you finish. 

But clearly Fees Free was too much of a free lunch. Not enough discipline or focus. 

Now the problem is Winston and National have kept this policy alive, they've just changed it to the final year of study.

The idea is this will encourage students to finish their studies. 

The problem? It's not doing that either. No evidence.

So, you've got to ask, with such a high price tag, is the whole thing worth having at all? 

Reading this story this morning about Fees Free, you've got to wonder how the policy got through the boffins in Wellington.&nbsp;
It has, by all accounts, failed to achieve it's objective.&nbsp;
Did we see floods of people charging into lecture halls and studying at university?&nbsp;No.
Did we see loads of poorer students benefit? No.
What did it cost us, again? $2.6 billion. $350 million last year alone.&nbsp;
That's one and half brand new Dunedin hospitals.&nbsp;
This is what it got us:
No increase in participation.&nbsp;230 students from poor schools were helped. That's 1.3%.
A whopping 70% of the kids who had their university fees paid for (up to $12,000 each) were from above-average socio-economic schools.&nbsp;They were the wealthier kids.&nbsp;
Did they need it? No.&nbsp;
I've always backed the interest-free student loan idea. You can borrow, not stress about interest, and work hard to pay it down once you finish.&nbsp;
But clearly Fees Free was too much of a free lunch. Not enough discipline or focus.&nbsp;
Now the problem is Winston and National have kept this policy alive, they've just changed it to the final year of study.
The idea is this will encourage students to finish their studies.&nbsp;
The problem? It's not doing that either. No evidence.
So, you've got to ask, with such a high price tag, is the whole thing worth having at all?&nbsp;

Ryan Bridge: What was the point in Fees Free?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/80e6511b-dec0-40d6-94b6-b3e0011ca6ea/transcript

Mark Quinn: Ambulance Association National Secretary on the rising number of calls for ambulances

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