Verum writes

The pantomime scene opens in a small office in the bowels of Westminster ofthe Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Health Services.

'Good morning minister,'said the assistant.'You've a busy day ahead of you-meetings through to sixand you have to start signing your Christmas cards.'

'Gosh there are a lot there, I never realised there would be so many,'replied the minister, seeing that the assistant was weighed down by a very large pile of cards and envelopes. 'Who are all those for?'

'Well, you look after so many things - healthcare quality, patient safety, national clinical directors and programmes, dentistry, strategic health authorities, children's health, maternity and many others'