Healthy inside: a scheme at Blakenhurst, a new commercially run prison, could be the shape of things to come for prison nursing

A scheme at Blakenhurst prison Worcestershire aims to offer nursing care within the prison health centre. The prison is commercially run and is the second prison to be operated by the private sector under contract to the prison service. The 12 nurses and clinical manager are employed permanently by Worcester Royal Infirmary NHS Trust. Nursing care in prisons had been traditionally given by health care officers many of which held a discipline role meaning that they could be called on to help restore order, for instance, during a riot. New practices will be introduced which may offer bluprints for other ventures to follow.