ABSTRACT
I ntroduction The National Health Service has around one million workers, including 1 00 000 doctors . The planning of doctor numbers has arguably been one of the most enduring examples of detailed ( Soviet-style ) central planning in recent UK history. On the other hand, the management of these workers has been relatively neglected. It is therefore all the more remarkable that the NHS has provided an effective health service with a smaller number of doctors per head of population than in any other comparable OECD country.
