The precept that prevention is better than cure continues to grow in relevance. Indeed, as populations become progressively affected by multi-morbidity and avoidable long-term disorders, both the urgency and the need to focus on prevention of illness is increasing. Prevention is about helping people stay healthy, happy and independent for as long as possible. It means stopping problems from arising in the first place; focusing on keeping people healthy, not just treating them when they become ill. Indeed, prevention is not merely the absence of illness or infirmity, it is the possession of a set of personal resources that need nurturing and development to ensure good mental and physical health. In addition, prevention cannot be solved by the health and social care system alone, as many aspects influencing good health lie outside of the health and social care sector’s control. Awareness of and commitment to health equity must be embedded within healthcare provision in order for prevention to be successful across society