People are living longer, and the growth of the ageing population has led to an increase in demand for the use of health services. As life expectancy is extended, so the prevalence of long-term conditions and multi-morbidity increases. While healthy ageing is achievable, the distribution of health depends on social and economic determinants, and improvements in health outcomes are associated with higher socioeconomic status.1 Healthy ageing is linked to physical, mental, functional and social wellbeing but also depends on the role older people have in society and the reduction of age-discriminatory health inequalities.2 Currently, ageing is associated with increased use of health services, but older people are generally considered lower priority for treatment and receive poorer-quality care.3 Moreover, austerity measures over the last decade have led to a widening of social and economic inequalities, which have resulted in poorer health and increasing health inequality.4 Constraints in spending on health and social care raise questions as to how health and social services will use the resources available to meet the needs of the older populations they serve.