Every loser wins. Nick Berry had a point, back in 1986. But it hardly explains the GMC, which is taking its suffering to unexplored heights. Monitor has noticed that the stern body has not had an especially good press of late. And the latest tragedy to hit really does take the biscuit. Thank God for GP magazine, with its team of hacks digging about to find the scoopiest of scoops. Its front page of 16 February had the story that everybody's talking about - (or would do, if they read GP) - 'GMC members have been reduced to eating sandwiches for lunch as part of a cost-cutting plan'.

Well! Things have come to a pretty pass! Sandwiches! (these constitute two slices of bread with food matter inbetween, for those of you fat cats who have managed to avoid them thus far). At any rate, the mealy-mouthed proposals are an attempt to save half a million pounds by using the GMC dining and members' rooms for revalidation hearings, of all things. Bolton GP and council member Dr Krishna Korlipara explained the consequences, almost unnecessarily: 'We will be standing in a room somewhere to eat a sandwich. '

Luckily, GP's editorial is ready to make a stand: 'There will be a rumbling sound echoing around the chambers of the GMC. No, it will not be the sound of bath chairs trundling along the corridors. The new sound will be that of stomachs rumbling as members adapt to their sandwiches in place of the traditional three-course affair. ' There is more: 'For the government to demand revalidation . . . and then to balk at paying for it is a gross insult. '

'GMC members must insist on ciabatta and leave ministers to foot the bill for their own orders', the editorial raged. And so, without further ado, Monitor launches the 'Forced to Live on Sarnies' campaign. If you are an NHS manager who has had to abandon your lunchtime banquets in favour of pre-prepared sandwiches, add your voice to our campaign. To show your support for the starving docs, send in your sandwich wrapper to: Monitor, HSJ, Greater London House, Hampstead Road, London NW1 7EJ - with a short note explaining the circumstances which led you to this sorry state of affairs.