Whether from a position of strength or weakness, geriatric medicine has work to do to drive up standards in health care for older people

• Geriatric medicine is the largest physicianly specialty in the UK, with high levels of competition for available training posts. • Improving care of older people has been the focus of multiple national policy initiatives in the UK over the past decade. • Acute and elective NHS care metrics have deteriorated since COVID-19, particularly disadvantaging older people with frailty. • To deliver better care for older people, we need to recruit to minimise geographical disparities in the specialist workforce. • We must work to secure a right to rehabilitation for older people, and secure recent gains in under and postgraduate education