Ethical tensions associated with the promotion of public health policy in health visiting: a qualitative investigation of health visitors' views.

Aim: To explore whether and how health visitors experience ethical tensions between the public health agenda and the need to be responsive to individual clients.

Background: Current health policy in England gives health visitors a key role in implementing the government's public health agenda. Health visitors are also required by their Professional Code to respond to the health-related concerns and preferences of their individual clients.