[Physician shortage at the regional level in the United Kingdom].

The National Health Service in the United Kingdom is experiencing a serious shortage of healthcare staff in several specialties; as a result, significant difficulties affecting both the ability to deliver the service and the quality, have been documented. Considering the specific features of the healthcare workforce, a holistic approach to the shortage has been suggested. This approach entails various long-term policy interventions, focusing on the improvement of recruitment and retention, changes in the skill mix of healthcare personnel, improvement of pay and working conditions, expanding training places and enhanced workforce planning. This strategy is underpinned by the premise that the causes of the shortages, the discontent amongst healthcare personnel and the poor quality of care that results, are all interrelated. This article deals specifically with shortage of medical doctors in the 4 components of the Kingdom. Each of them manages autonomously their health service and is designing separate plans to overcome medical staff shortage. However, these plans are similar and the same outcomes are expected in the 4 regions.