"Dept of Health Style Guide circa 2004" ?
An actual link would be good.

At least you weren't alone
www.google.co.uk/search?q=health+document+"a+honest"  
Anyway, because a human wrote something down once upon a time doesn't make it true or something I would follow now.

It isn't in this anyway
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/style-guide/a-to-z-of-gov-uk-style


Can you describe a bit more about how you feel when you are writing something to take the piss out of Joe?