Lack of nursing staff or lack of planning for the future?

It's surprising to read in the papers that a government would actually pay a bonus for former nurses to come back to the work place because there are a shortage of these professional staff in the hospital system of the country.

I wonder what this says about the labour planning that has been going on for the last few years.

Everyone knows and indeed has known for some years that the population in this (and many other countries) is ageing. The world of the "Baby Boomers" - children born during and immediately after the 2nd world war is coming to an end. As the "boomers" age so their need for services that pertain to their health situation also changes.

Part of the planning process for all governments should have featured planning for this eventuality - however it appears that short term goals and particularly short term political goals have led to a situation in which most governments are likely to have to play 'catch up' thus costing taxpayers a great deal of money at a time when there is also likely to be a requirement in many other sectors of the economy for additional funding for lack of planning in their areas of expertise as well.