Although the story-line seems fairly implausible, the writers had researched the idea and found there were at least six NHS hospitals or major wings of hospitals which, like the fictional St. Edward's Hospital, had no patients. One in Cambridgeshire had only one patient: the Matron (head of nursing staff) who had fallen over some scaffolding and broken her leg.
The union representative, Billy Fraser, is based on Jamie Morris, who was the union shop steward at the Westminster Hospital during the "Winter of Discontent" in early 1979.
ACAS is the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, and NALGO was the National and Local Government Officers' Association, two bodies which dealt with relations between the UK government and its employees.
In his TV interview, Billy Fraser says "every stone will be left unturned in the search for the settlement". The correct expression is "no turn will be left unturned..." so Fraser is tacitly admitting he will make no effort to end the strike. It is unclear why he would say this on national television, as trade unions always want to appear to be firm but reasonable.
In his TV interview, Billy Fraser says "every stone will be left unturned in the search for the settlement". The correct expression is "no stone will be left unturned..." so Fraser is tacitly admitting he will make no effort to end the strike. It is unclear why he would say this on national television, as trade unions always want to appear to be firm but reasonable.