There have been “shortages” of doctors and nurses forever, the usual newspapers were panicking about it in the 80s (source: was there, read them). Probably someone will be along in a minute to say they remember it from the 60s too!

Fun fact: the doctors were the biggest obstacle to the foundation of the NHS and they disappear into private practice at the first opportunity.

That's a lot of talk. How many people in the UK don't have access to medical care due to, say shortages vs how many in the US die every year b/c they cannot afford care?