KEY POINTS:
A pilot scheme giving prisoners access to nurses at the country's two busiest police stations was officially launched yesterday.
The two-year programme run by the Ministry of Health and police will place nurses in the Christchurch Central and Manukau stations.
Canterbury district commander Superintendent Dave Cliff said police were often the first agency to have contact with people with mental health and alcohol or drug issues, "usually when things go wrong", and the assistance of specialist nurses would be ideal.
