St. Swithins is in a bad state - the corridors and wards have not been painted in years, the internal telephones do not work properly, dustbins overflow with rubbish, even the lettering on the sign outside is incomplete.
Duncan, Dick and Paul angrily confront Adrian Quint, the hospital's new 'manager', in reality an hard-hearted accountant more interested in saving money than lives. He pours scorn on their concerns.
The lads decide to stage a scam; by making Quint think that a V.I.P. is due in for a minor operation, they get him to release the funds required to give St. Swithin's a full make-over...
Angus Deayton brightens up this episode; his 'Quint' is reminiscent of the show's old-style 'nasties' such as 'Sir John Pollock' ( from the 'In Charge' episode 'The Merger' ) and 'Mr.Gascoigne' ( from the 'On The Go' instalment 'For Your Own Good' ). In the old days the lads would have debagged him, covered him in yellow paint or thrown him into the canal. The worst that happens to him here is that he is made to look extremely foolish.
Nice to see Robin Nedwell regaining a little of his old fire, the scene where he rages at Quint is superb. Once again, George Layton the writer is at odds with George Layton the actor. There's no denying that Layton is as good here as he was in the original show, sadly he fails to give himself ( along with everybody else ) any decent lines.
With N.H.S. cutbacks very much in the news in 1991 thanks to the horrendous Virginia Bottomley, the then Minister Of Health, this plot was certainly timely, even if it really belongs on 'Casualty'.
Twelve million viewers tuned in for the first episode of 'At The Top', but by this one went out that figure had decreased to five.
Funniest moment - Quint entering a ward expecting to see the V.I.P. - Charles Windsor - but instead of the future King he sees only a little boy with the same name!
Duncan, Dick and Paul angrily confront Adrian Quint, the hospital's new 'manager', in reality an hard-hearted accountant more interested in saving money than lives. He pours scorn on their concerns.
The lads decide to stage a scam; by making Quint think that a V.I.P. is due in for a minor operation, they get him to release the funds required to give St. Swithin's a full make-over...
Angus Deayton brightens up this episode; his 'Quint' is reminiscent of the show's old-style 'nasties' such as 'Sir John Pollock' ( from the 'In Charge' episode 'The Merger' ) and 'Mr.Gascoigne' ( from the 'On The Go' instalment 'For Your Own Good' ). In the old days the lads would have debagged him, covered him in yellow paint or thrown him into the canal. The worst that happens to him here is that he is made to look extremely foolish.
Nice to see Robin Nedwell regaining a little of his old fire, the scene where he rages at Quint is superb. Once again, George Layton the writer is at odds with George Layton the actor. There's no denying that Layton is as good here as he was in the original show, sadly he fails to give himself ( along with everybody else ) any decent lines.
With N.H.S. cutbacks very much in the news in 1991 thanks to the horrendous Virginia Bottomley, the then Minister Of Health, this plot was certainly timely, even if it really belongs on 'Casualty'.
Twelve million viewers tuned in for the first episode of 'At The Top', but by this one went out that figure had decreased to five.
Funniest moment - Quint entering a ward expecting to see the V.I.P. - Charles Windsor - but instead of the future King he sees only a little boy with the same name!