BOLTON health chiefs have welcomed Andy Burnham’s vision to rebuild the NHS “around patients”.

The shadow health secretary detailed his plan for a combined social care and health service at the Labour party’s annual conference in Manchester yesterday.

He said Labour will be bold and “complete Nye Bevan’s vision, and bring social care in to the NHS”.

Mr Burnham pledged to next year write to every household in England outlining the plans to ensure “one team” is in place to deal with all health needs.

Linda Thomas, deputy leader of Bolton Council, said: “Mr Burnham has picked up on the mood of the health and social care profession, which has operated on a two-tier system — often with care workers below health workers.

“For too long social care was treated as a ‘Cinderella service’ and I think Mr Burnham showed that he wants to put them on an equal footing.

“To me that seems like a logical step and I welcome the move. In Bolton we are already piloting integrated care teams and his speech was an endorsement of that system.”

Mr Burnham also announced better support for carers, if Labour win the election.

However Cllr Thomas was more sceptical on how breaks and annual health checks for carers would be funded.

Cllr Thomas, who also sits on the national Local Government Authority (LGA), added: “We would always welcome more support for carers, however he needs to understand that local authorities need the resources to do it.

“What the conference has done is pitch the NHS as a main priority for the Labour Party in the next election.”

Mr Burnham’s proposals came after party leader Ed Miliband’s pledge to give the NHS a £2.5 billion boost.

Mr Burnham added: “An NHS for the whole person, an NHS for carers, an NHS personal to you. At last, a National Health Service keeping you well, not a national sickness service picking up the pieces.”