BBC News has reported that the Health Secretary Andy Burnham is to stress that there needs to be a change in NHS strategy to provide more care in the home.

The Health Secretary believes that as well as improving the lives of elderly or sick patients, it will save the NHS billions and create valuable domiciliary care jobs.

In his speech set for later today, Burnham will ask the NHS to ''reach out'' to patients, helping them in daily tasks and making a difference to their quality of life. A release of his impending speech shows that Burnham will announce: ''The time has come for the NHS to make a decisive shift in providing more care out of hospitals and in the patient's community and home.''

Burnham will stress that a shift to more care in the community will save the NHS up to £2.7bn a year and for those who are suffering from long-term illness, give them a choice about where they would like to receive treatment.

''For too long, services have been organised to fit the convenience of the system. A great NHS will put the convenience of the patient first and move services towards them where it is safe to do so... Care in the home can also achieve better results and save money''.

Meanwhile, the Conservatives have also unveiled plans to put patients in charge of their own care and offer treatment in the community.