An NHS manger's guide to cost-cutting 1. Notice ambulance crews' working arrangements appear to fall foul of EU law 2. Force crews to take breaks at specified times whether they like it or not 3. Results: a) Crews get annoyed at the new regime - this will be presented in the media as 'Crews don't want to take a break from saving lives' b) Among the many reasons for a crew not being available for every 999 call [understaffing, underfunding etc] is now "Crew were eating BigMacs as my granny died" 4. Solution. Bow to 'popular' (aka media) pressure, and force crews to take unpaid breaks in line with EU guidance and have the option to pull them off said breaks as soon as someone stubs their toe, calls 999 and mentions breathing difficulties. Step 5... Profit! Cynical? Me?