For all the talk about politics never being the same again after the referendum, First Minister's Questions was eerily familiar.

Alex Salmond was still playing the FM-inator, slaying all comers with mechanical efficiency, Johann Lamont was still understudying for somebody decent, Ruth Davidson wasn't bad but remained an accursed Tory, and apple-cheeked nipper Willie Rennie was still being patronised horribly by that nasty big man at the front.

It was if the last two and half years had all been a dream.

Oh, how we wish.

Seemingly bored with winning since last Thursday, Ms Lamont wasted no time reviving her losing streak by demanding answers about the shocking secret privatisation of the country's medical records.

This was based on an overexcited press report about £1.6m of new computer kit for GPs.

As this works out at 30p a punter - a pittance no self-respecting predatory capitalist would touch - Ms Lamont was clearly on shaky ground.

No matter. It was only facts after all.

Mr Salmond, she claimed, was the biggest privatiser of the NHS in Scottish history.

"Er, no, it's an IT system," said the FM.

"It's like saying this parliament is being privatised because we use Windows."

The mute tiers of Labour MSPs said it all.

Never healthy, Ms Lamont's line of attack was already in critical condition.

Moreover, continued the FM, the same company had been doing similar IT work since 1998, when Labour was in power.

Ms Lamont bravely tried to rally.

"Perhaps the First Minister could break the habit of a lifetime and indulge in a little truth-mongering?" she gasped.

But Mr Salmond only teased her about rumours she is soon to be replaced as Scottish Labour leader by MP Jim Murphy.

Though "there seem to be a number of annointed successors to Johann Lamont," he added.

"Don't worry," she rattled. "When the First Minister is long gone I'll still be doing my job."

The Labour backbenches exploded. They liked that. Whether they thought through the implications is another matter.

When a political leader has to deny there's a coup afoot, they're already in deep trouble.

Ms Lamont isn't quite Ceausescu waving from the balcony, but all she needs is a balcony.

"I hope she continues as oppositionleader in this parliament for some considerable time," Mr Salmond went on.

"If so, it won't be because of the enthusiastic support of her own colleagues."

As Labour MSPs tried to drown him out, the FM simply bawled the names of Ms Lamont's rivals.

"Jim Murphy... Anas Sarwar," he yelled into the din, saying he was personally sure she would carry on, despite her colleagues' doubts.

"I'm  not as pessimistic about the prospects of the Labour Party as the Labour Party," he roared at the crescendo.

With the Presiding Officer in a dwam, it fell to Ruth Davidson to silence Ms Lamont's tormentor with a nice line on his replacement by Nicola Sturgeon.

"That's why we need a woman's touch," she said.

When even the Tories are moved to help a Labour leader, you know the vital signs on the monitor aren't good.

As they say in Holby City, "Beeeeeeeeep!"