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Tv, Yes Minister - S02E01 The Compassionate Society
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00:00.
00:30What is it today, Sam?
00:49Ministry.
00:51All the morning on National Health Service Administration.
00:54Ah, this chap just been talking about that on the radio.
00:56Saying that the trouble with health and education and transport
01:01is that all the top people in government
01:03go to private hospitals and send their kids to private schools.
01:06Very good.
01:08Comedy programme, was it?
01:10And go to work and chauffeur-driven cars.
01:15But don't you think there's something in it, sir?
01:18I mean, if you and Sir Humphrey went to work on a number 27...
01:21Quite impracticable.
01:23We work quite long enough hours a day as it is
01:25without having to wait an extra hour at bus stops.
01:27You'd have to make the bus service much more efficient, wouldn't you, sir?
01:30You certainly would.
01:31Yes, that's what he was saying.
01:35I was just saying with the health service.
01:38Do you remember a booper, sir?
01:39Anything on the radio, Ron?
01:41It was about time for yesterday in Parliament, I think, sir.
01:43Oh, well, don't bother, Dad.
01:45At question time, Mr. Danford, the opposition member for Birmingham South West,
01:48asked the Minister of Administrative Affairs, Mr. James Hacker,
01:52about the government's pledge to reduce the number of administrators in the health service.
01:56Yes, sir.
01:56The government has already achieved a reduction of 11.3%
02:00in administrative and clerical staff
02:02and is actively pursuing further economies.
02:05But would the Minister explain how his assurance to the House
02:10squares with this minute from his own department?
02:15At this point, Mr. Lanford dramatically produced a paper from his pocket.
02:19I quote,
02:20If data processing staff were reclassified from administrative to technical,
02:27and if the base of comparison was changed from the financial to the calendar year,
02:32then the figures will show a fall of 11.3%.
02:37Would the Minister care to comment on this shabby deception?
02:42That was a bit of a googly, wasn't it, sir?
02:44I have no knowledge of the document which the Honourable Member is brandishing.
02:54I will happily give the date and file reference to the Minister
02:58in exchange for an assurance that he will set up a full independent inquiry.
03:06I am happy to give that assurance.
03:09The House gave a second reading to the Scottish fisheries bill.
03:13That's a bit rough, isn't it?
03:14A full independent inquiry.
03:16Well...
03:17You were dropped in it there, sir.
03:20I think I got away with it, didn't I?
03:22If you were lucky, they didn't ask you about that in New St. Edward's Hospital, sir.
03:25Why?
03:26Well, they finished building it 15 months ago, and it's still got no patients.
03:31I suppose the DHSS can't afford to staff it?
03:34Oh, it's got staff.
03:35500 administrators.
03:38Trust no patient.
03:39Who told you this?
03:40My mate Charlie, he's a driver for the Secretary of State for Health.
03:44Humphrey, I'm appalled.
03:49So am I, Minister.
03:50The incompetence of it, the stupidity.
03:52I agree.
03:52I can't think what came over you.
03:54I beg your pardon?
03:56But to concede a full independent inquiry...
03:59Humphrey?
03:59Yes, Minister.
04:00That's not what I meant.
04:01But you mentioned stupidity and incompetence.
04:03Yours, Humphrey.
04:04Yours.
04:05Mine, Minister.
04:06How could you drop me into it like that?
04:08What a small omission from the brief.
04:09We can't foresee everything but a full independent inquiry.
04:13I don't want an inquiry any more than you do.
04:14But if you're drowning and somebody throws you a rope, you grab it.
04:17That wasn't a rope.
04:18That was a noose.
04:19You should have stood up for the department.
04:21That's what you're there for.
04:22No, Humphrey.
04:22It won't do.
04:23I'd prepare myself thoroughly for yesterday's question time.
04:25But nowhere in my brief was there any suggestion that you'd been juggling with the figures
04:29so that I'd give misleading replies to the House.
04:31Minister, you said you wanted the administration figures reduced, didn't you?
04:34Yes.
04:35So, we reduced the figures.
04:36But only the figures, not the number of administrators.
04:40Well, of course not.
04:41Well, that's not what I meant.
04:42Well, really, Minister, one is not a mind reader, is one?
04:46You said reduce the figures, so we reduced the figures.
04:48And another thing.
04:49How did this get out?
04:51Another leak.
04:53This isn't a department, it's a colander.
04:56How are we supposed to govern responsibly if backbenchers get all the facts?
05:01Well, at least an inquiry gives us a little time.
05:03So does a time bomb.
05:05Yes.
05:06Haven't you got a disposal squad?
05:07Disposal squad?
05:09Couldn't we get the independent inquiry to exonerate the department?
05:14Do you mean rig it?
05:15No, no, no, no, no, no.
05:18Well, yes.
05:21Minister?
05:21No, it all depends on who the chairman is.
05:25He absolutely has to be sound.
05:27How do you mean sound?
05:29Well, a sound man will know what is required.
05:32He will perceive the implications.
05:34He will have a sympathetic and sensitive insight into the overall problems.
05:38In short, he will be sound.
05:41You mean bent?
05:43What?
05:43No, of course not.
05:45No, he will be a man of broad understanding.
05:48How about a retired politician?
05:51And unimpeachable integrity.
05:54Yes, I see what you mean.
05:56A businessman?
05:57Oh, really?
05:59An academic?
05:59No, no, no, no, no.
06:02All right, who do you got in mind?
06:03Well, I thought perhaps a retired civil servant.
06:07Good thinking, Humphrey.
06:08Sir Maurice Williams could be the man.
06:11Might not he be too independent?
06:14Well, he's hoping for a peerage.
06:16Well, he won't get one through this, will he?
06:17No, but the right finding will earn him a few more brownie points.
06:22Brownie points?
06:23Yes, they all add up until finally you get the badge.
06:27Very well.
06:28Sir Maurice Williams it is.
06:29Thank you, Minister.
06:30Thank you, Brown Owl.
06:33Oh.
06:36Good morning, Bernard.
06:40Just two points, Minister.
06:41The Cuban political refugees.
06:42Oh, not that again.
06:43It looks as if there's a row blowing up over our refusal to do any more fault.
06:46Well, it's not my fault.
06:47It's the Treasury.
06:48Yes, quite.
06:49You can't beat the Treasury, Bernard.
06:50I shall just say nothing.
06:53Oh, dear.
06:54One more public humiliation and I shall become a political refugee myself.
06:58What was that other point?
06:59Oh, well, you asked me to find out about that alleged empty hospital in North London.
07:02Oh, yes.
07:03Well, as I warned you, Minister, the driver's network is not wholly reliable.
07:07Roy has got it wrong.
07:08Thank heavens for that.
07:10How did you find out?
07:11Through the private secretaries' network.
07:14And?
07:15Well, in fact, there are only 342 administrative staff at the Newson Edwards Hospital.
07:20The other ones, 70, are porters, cleaners, laundry workers, gardeners, cooks and so forth.
07:25And how many medical staff?
07:26Oh, none of them.
07:29None?
07:30No.
07:32Bernard, we are talking about St. Edward's Hospital, aren't we?
07:35Yes, it's brand new.
07:36It was completed 15 months ago and fully staffed.
07:38But unfortunately, at that time, there were government cutbacks, so consequently, there was no money left for medical services.
07:44Brand new hospital with over 500 non-medical staff and no patients.
07:47Oh, there is one patient.
07:49One?
07:50Yes.
07:50The deputy chief administrator fell over a piece of scaffolding and broke his arm.
07:54Good God.
07:56Thank heavens I wasn't asked about this in the house.
07:59Why hasn't it got out?
08:00Well, actually, I think it's been contrived to keep looking like a building site.
08:04And so far, no one's realized it's operational.
08:07You know, scaffolding, skip still there, the normal thing.
08:11The normal thing?
08:12I think I'd better go and have a look at this before the opposition does.
08:14Yes.
08:15It's surprising the press haven't found out by now, isn't it?
08:18Fortunately, Bernard, most of our journalists are so incompetent, they'd have the gravest difficulty in finding out that today is Wednesday.
08:24It's actually Thursday.
08:30Oh.
08:31Ah, two down there.
08:33So why is your minister interested in St Edward's hospital?
08:36Well, he's apparently greatly concerned that it has no patience.
08:40Takes all sorts.
08:41Yes.
08:42How can there be patience when it has no nursing staff?
08:49Well, quite.
08:54Ah, thank you.
08:54Go, you'll spend a second.
08:59We found at the DHSS that it takes time to get things going.
09:04Hmm.
09:06First of all, you have to sort out the smooth running of the hospital.
09:10Well, having patience around would be no help at all.
09:15They'd just be in the way.
09:17Right.
09:18You tell your minister this is the run-in period.
09:20Yes, yes, the run-in period.
09:23But how long is the run-in period going to last, you see?
09:27Because my minister's agreed to a full independent inquiry.
09:30And you know what I think about that?
09:31Oh, yes, yes, yes, I know, I know.
09:33But we are going to get some patience into St. Edward's...
09:40...eventually.
09:43Aren't we?
09:45It's possible.
09:49Certainly our present intention.
09:51It's been a year or two.
09:56Probably.
09:58When the financial situation has eased up a bit.
10:01Oh, not till then?
10:01No.
10:02How can I open 40 new wards at St. Edward's when I'm making closures everywhere else?
10:06Treasury wouldn't wear it, neither would the cabinet.
10:08My minister may want to shut the whole place.
10:12Impossible.
10:13What about the unions?
10:15Oh, are the unions active at St. Edward's?
10:17Good point.
10:21Do you remember that firebrand agitator at Southwark Hospital?
10:26Hmm?
10:27Billy Fraser, odious man.
10:29Could be useful.
10:30Time he was moved on.
10:36National Health Service, Humphrey, is an advanced case of galloping bureaucracy.
10:41Oh, certainly not galloping.
10:43A gentle canter at the most.
10:49Instances flood into this office every day, don't they, Bernard?
10:52From whom, Minister?
10:53MPs, constituents, doctors, nurses, the public.
10:56Troublemakers.
10:58The public?
11:00They're some of the worst.
11:01Listen to this memo.
11:04Stethoscope requisition.
11:05Because of the current supply situation, it is not possible to issue you with the extra stethoscopes you have applied for.
11:10We are, however, in a position to supply you with longer tubes for your existing stethoscopes.
11:18Well?
11:19Doesn't that strike you as rather odd?
11:21No.
11:21If they have a supply of long tubes, they'll be...
11:23No, no, no, no.
11:25No, they don't want longer stethoscopes.
11:27They want more stethoscopes.
11:28If the stethoscopes had really long tubes, Minister, the consultant can stand in one place and listen to all the chests on the wall.
11:35Oh, what about this?
11:41Nurses' uniforms.
11:42It has become apparent that the latest consignment of nurses' coats are made of a see-through material.
11:48Nurses who have been issued with these coats are requested to report to the director of the Uniform Surveillance Centre,
11:54who will assess the extent of the problem.
11:57Nice work, if you can get it.
12:02Humphrey, I'm serious.
12:04Will you please note that the soft paper toilet rolls are provided only for the use of patients and not staff?
12:10It would appear that in recent months, staff have been using the soft toilet rolls for one reason or another.
12:17As this, St Stephen's Mortuary will be closed over Christmas.
12:24During the holiday, medical staff are requested to cooperate in keeping pressure off this department.
12:32Well, a very civil and reasonable request.
12:35No, you think that during the rest of the year, the doctors are working hard to keep the mortuary busy?
12:40Minister, these are just a few isolated examples.
12:43In general, the health service is as efficient and economical as the government allows it to be.
12:49That's nuts and sumpfrey.
12:50And look at the figures.
12:51They speak for themselves.
12:52In ten years, the number of health service administrators has gone up by 40,000.
12:57And the number of hospital beds has gone down by 60,000.
13:01And the annual cost of the health service has gone up by one and a half billion pounds.
13:06In real terms.
13:07If only British industry could match this growth record.
13:10You think that spending more and more money on fewer and fewer patients so that we can
13:16employ more and more administrators is a good way of spending the money voted by Parliament
13:20and supplied by the taxpayer?
13:22Certainly.
13:23This money is voted solely, Humphrey, to make sick people better.
13:27No, no, no, no, no.
13:30It is to make everybody better.
13:33Better for having shown the extent of their care and compassion.
13:37You see, Minister, when money is allocated to the health or social services,
13:42Parliament and the country feel cleansed.
13:47Purified.
13:49Absolved.
13:49It is a sacrifice.
13:51Load of a clap track.
13:53And when a sacrifice is made, nobody asks the priest what happens to the ritual offering after the ceremony.
13:59No, Humphrey, you're wrong.
14:00The public does care if this money is misspent.
14:02With respect, Minister, they care that it should not be seen to be misspent.
14:05That's not true.
14:07Look at the uproar over mental hospital scandals.
14:10My point exactly, Minister.
14:12Those abuses had been going on quite happily for years, decades.
14:16Nobody was remotely concerned to find out what was really being done with their money,
14:20what outraged them was being told about it.
14:23Humphrey, that's a cynical smokescreen.
14:25Are we or are we not agreed that there is simply no point in running a hospital solely for the benefit of the staff?
14:30Well, that is not how I would have expressed the question.
14:34Well, it's how I've expressed the question.
14:36Indeed.
14:38Very well.
14:39How would you express it?
14:40Well, of course, at the end of the day, one of a hospital's prime functions is patient care.
14:46One?
14:46What else?
14:47But until we have the money for nursing and medical staff, it is a function that we are not able to pursue.
14:53Perhaps in 18 months or so.
14:5518 months?
14:56Well, perhaps by then we may be able to open a couple of wards.
14:59No, Humphrey.
14:59It's got to be now, and more than a couple.
15:02Well, I suppose we could form an interdepartmental committee to examine the feasibility of monitoring a proposal for admitting patients at an earlier date.
15:11How long would that take to report?
15:14Oh, not long.
15:15How long?
15:16Oh, about 18 months.
15:1718 months, yes.
15:19Well, I suggest that we get rid of all the staff currently employed at that hospital and use the money saved to open closed wards in other hospitals.
15:27Minister!
15:28When we can afford it, we open St. Edward's with medical staff, if you would be so kind.
15:33Minister, if you do that, you will delay the opening of St. Edward's for patients for years.
15:37Why?
15:38Well, you talk as if the staff had nothing to do, simply because there are no patients there.
15:41What do they do?
15:42Oh, really, Minister?
15:44There are a large number of extremely busy departments.
15:47First, there's a contingency department for fires, strikes, air raids, nuclear war, epidemics, food or water poisoning.
15:54In such a crisis, the local general hospital is a key centre for survival.
15:58Then there's the data and research department, who at this moment are conducting a full-scale demographic survey of the catchment area.
16:06We have to anticipate the future requirements for maternity, geriatrics, paediatrics and the male-female balance.
16:13Then, thirdly, there's finance, of course, projected accounts, balance sheets and cash flow budgets.
16:19Then there's the purchasing department for purchasing medical and other equipment, examining estimates, looking at priceless and catalogs.
16:29Purchasing what?
16:31Well, everything, Minister.
16:33Everything from brain scanners to brasso.
16:35May I continue?
16:37Be briefer.
16:39Would that I could, Minister.
16:42But I'm afraid you do need to understand.
16:44Fifth, there's the technical department for evaluating equipment.
16:47Six, there's the building department, which deals with the phase three building plans, costing and so forth, for the final phase of the hospital, which should be completed by 1994.
16:57Then there's maintenance, cleaning and catering, personnel in charge of leave, national health insurance, salaries, as well as some staff welfare officers to look after the over 500 employees.
17:09And finally, administration.
17:11Oh, administrators.
17:12More administrators to administrate the other administrators.
17:14But this is important work, Minister.
17:17The typing pool, stationary desks, office furniture and equipment, liaison between departments.
17:23I can't tell whether you're being serious or not.
17:26What do you mean?
17:27I'm afraid there are no patients.
17:31That is what a hospital is for.
17:33Patients.
17:34You know people.
17:36Healing the sick.
17:37But, Minister, all these vital tasks that I've just listed must be carried out with or without patients.
17:43Why?
17:46Why?
17:47Why?
17:50I don't understand.
17:53At the house, I can express it.
17:54Why?
17:56Well, would you get rid of the army just because there was no war?
17:58That is completely different.
18:00A hospital must produce results.
18:01Oh, Minister, we don't measure our success by results, but by activity.
18:05And the activity is considerable and productive.
18:08Those 500 people are seriously overworked.
18:15Of course, the full establishment should be 650.
18:19May I show you some of the paperwork emanating from St Edward's?
18:22No, no, Humphrey.
18:23No, you may not.
18:23Enough is enough.
18:24Sack them.
18:25After the question, Minister.
18:28We need our administrators.
18:30Otherwise, the hospital will never open.
18:32Well, sack the ancillary staff.
18:33Equally impossible.
18:34The unions won't wear it.
18:36Well, sack half the administrators, half the ancillary staff,
18:39and use the money saved to get some doctors and nurses and open some walls.
18:42Oh, Minister.
18:43No, no, Humphrey.
18:44No, that is my last word.
18:45Please, Minister.
18:45No, no.
18:46My last, last word.
18:47It may go.
18:48Very well, Minister.
18:52I shall have a word with the health service unions.
18:56But I don't hold out much hope.
18:58Go!
19:01Seems to be everything.
19:02Thank you very much for coming.
19:08Thank you, Frank, very much.
19:13Thank you, George.
19:15Very good meeting.
19:16Yes, glad you thought so.
19:17Now, Brian, you got time for a drink?
19:19Oh, well, just a quick one.
19:21Good.
19:21Usual?
19:22Yes, make us over at home.
19:31What are we going to do about St. Edward's Hospital?
19:35St. Edward's Hospital?
19:37Oh, we haven't got much of a case, have we?
19:39Can't really fight you on this one.
19:41What do you mean?
19:42Well, I think my members realise that you can't keep ancillary staff on indefinitely, an empty hospital.
19:50Isn't that a bit defeatist?
19:53What?
19:55Well, sure, you can stick up for your people better than that.
19:58You mean you want us to...
19:59Well, it's not just your workers, you know.
20:03There are 342 administrative civil servants.
20:06They must have some workers to administer.
20:08Civil servants are never laid off.
20:09Well, we live in strange and disturbing times.
20:12You mean, if we take industrial action, you'll support us?
20:19Oh, my dear Brian, I am the Permanent Secretary.
20:22I have been entrusted with the task of keeping the wheels of government turning.
20:25I couldn't possibly countenance any such action.
20:30But, if there were widespread and effective opposition from the ancillary workers,
20:35then the civil servants would have to stay on as well.
20:39What about the Minister?
20:40The Minister doesn't know his A-casts from his Nalgo.
20:50Well, I haven't got much of a case, have I?
20:52I mean, hospital empty for 15 months,
20:55no hope of any of the wards opening for another year.
20:57Oh, pull yourself together, man.
20:59Think of your members and their wives and children.
21:02Their cats, budges.
21:05The trouble is they're all more or less resigned to it by now.
21:07Well, is Billy Fraser resigned to it?
21:11Ah, yes, but he's over at Southwark.
21:15Do you want a bed?
21:18You mean...
21:19Oh, well, that's a different matter,
21:23if I've got some real shop floor militancy to work on.
21:26Ah, you see?
21:28Unity.
21:29Solidarity.
21:31Thanks for the drink, hon.
21:32Thank you, brother.
21:34Well, please give my kind regards to our fraternal comrades.
21:37Oh, yeah.
21:37We shall not, we shall not.
21:44Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom.
21:48uh minister this is uh mrs rogers the uh the chief administrator i'd ask to meet you this is billy
22:15fraser our chairman of the joint shop stewards committee i'd ask with you i wouldn't be too sure
22:20about that this is f ward
22:45and this is jay theater
22:52how much do all this cost together with radiotherapy and intensive care two and a quarter million
23:01doesn't it appalling you that it's not being used oh no a very good thing in some ways
23:08prolongs its life cuts down running costs but that'll know patients no but the essential work
23:15of the hospital still has to go on aren't patients the essential work of the hospital
23:19running an organization of 500 people is a big job minister but if they weren't here they wouldn't
23:25be here what no mrs rogers it won't do either you must get some patients into this hospital
23:32or i suppose yes well minister in the course of time no no not in the course of time mrs rogers
23:37now get rid of 300 of your people get some doctors and nurses and get some patients now look here
23:44without those 300 people this hospital just wouldn't function oh you think it's functioning now
23:49minister it's one of the best-run hospitals in the country
23:53it's up for the florence nightingale award what pray is that it's won by the most hygienic hospital
24:01in the area no mrs rogers i've said my last word 300 staff must go you mean 300 jobs lost couldn't
24:09do any serious surgery with just a skeleton medical staff well don't do any serious surgery i don't
24:14care if you only do varicose veins hernias and piles do something do you mean 300 jobs lost yes i do mr
24:21fraser a hospital is not a source of employment it is a place for healing of the sick well it's a
24:26source of employment for my members and you want to put them out of work do you is that what you call
24:31a compassionate society i'd rather be compassionate to patients than to your members right we'll come
24:36out on strike what's the matter who could it harm do please come out on strike the sooner the better
24:45and take the administrators with you while you're at it then we shan't have to pay you
24:50how about a drink before we go home bernard oh yes sir thank you minister i thought that all went
25:06very well this morning at the hospital didn't you bernard uh yes minister i wasn't standing any
25:11argument you know no threatening to go on strike played right into my hands cheers cheers here aren't
25:18we missing the news but our diplomatic correspondent says that the united states is now putting considerable
25:27pressure on the british government to take in some cuban refugees the government has made no official
25:32comment of course not i haven't got the money all workers in national health service hospitals in the
25:38greater london area are to go on strike at friday midnight
25:45a row has blown up a st edwards hospital in london over the proposed laying off of 170 ancillary workers
25:52we spoke to union activist billy fraser we are striking against unemployment we could bring london's
26:00hospitals to a complete standstill there will be no blood transfusions during operations no cancer
26:06treatment nothing until we have brought back the compassionate society we're not doing it it's mr
26:14hacker that's doing it shouldn't you think twice before inflicting these terrible sanctions on innocent
26:19members of the public i can assure you and i'd like to take this opportunity to assure the general public
26:25that every stone will be left unturned in a search for the settlement
26:32have you seen the news yes yes yes you said you were going to talk to the union yes yes i know i
26:36know what are we going to do well at the moment we have an even more serious problem
26:41sir maurice williams independent inquiry about the department well it looks as though it's going
26:45to be unfavorable to us but you said he was sound you said he wanted a period i know i know but
26:49apparently he's also working his peerage and his capacity as chairman of the joint committee for
26:54the resettlement of refugees i see and i suppose there are more brownie points to be got from
26:58refugees than from government inquiries precisely minister doesn't he realize we haven't got the
27:03money to rehouse these refugees well uh minister i don't care who it is i don't want to talk to them
27:08it's number 10. hello jim yes yes quite yes i see thank you number 10 has also seen billy fraser
27:23on the news they hope that a peace formula can be reached very soon well on top of everything sir
27:29maurice williams says he'll be satisfied only if the united kingdom will take and house a thousand
27:33refugees but we haven't the money for these refugees we haven't even the money for a thousand bed
27:38hospital how many refugees did you say someone has wanted us to take a thousand a thousand refugees
27:45a thousand beds fully staffed minister that hospital is for sick british not healthy foreigners
27:53there's a huge waiting list for it didn't you just say that sir maurice's independent inquiry was
27:58likely to come down against the department but that's got what you want
28:02yes i see your point minister bernard reinstate all the workers at stedwood's
28:12and tell sir maurice that we can offer him a new hospital with accommodation for a thousand refugees
28:18and tell the press that it was my decision and that everybody's happy do you want to give them a
28:24vote minister well why not say it was a tough decision but a necessary one
28:33britain is to retain the name of um the compassionate society minister thank you humphrey
28:41the compassionate society you got that bonnet oh uh yes minister
28:57thank you
29:01so
29:06so
29:11so
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