Health visiting at the crossroads: which way to the 21st century?

This article presents a response from a group of lecturers at Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery, King's College London and one service user to the perception of a crisis of confidence within health visiting. Changes in registration procedures and shifts in policy have led health visiting to question its place within primary care and the model of preparation for health visiting practice. The group argues that this debate is based on a misunderstanding of the changing health care environment and that health visiting can find a place within the primary care team. Key to this is the continued adherence to a basic nursing training. The authors suggest an incremental model of health visitor training to provide the fullest scope to implement the new health agenda.