Healthcare in Bolton is set for a major overhaul in a bid to “challenge” council and NHS chiefs to respond to residents' health needs.

The current health board merged into what are being termed as a new locality board - made up of council and health officials.

The boards will draw up priorities for people’s healthcare needs at neighbourhood level, taking in the hospital, social workers, GPs and care workers.

Chairing Bolton’s board, which will also include the voluntary sector, will be cabinet member for adult services Cllr Andy Morgan.

He said: “It really is a true partnership, it’s about challenging each other to best meet the needs of the people of Bolton.”

Cllr Morgan added: “What we’ll be doing is setting the priorities at our locality board and profiling each borough, setting local priorities and then challenging services to meet them.”

The Bolton News:

Bolton's new Locality Board will be chaired by Cllr Andy Morgan

Cllr Morgan explained that locality board has already been carrying out 'shadow meetings' in preparation ahead of its first official meeting in July.

From then on it will take over from the old Clinical Commissioning Group system as part of a nationwide move towards integrated care which will also allow the public to have their say on how services can meet their needs.

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust chief executive Fiona Noden will be joining Cllr Morgan on the board as "place-based lead for health and care integration" .

She said: “This is an exciting time for health and care in Bolton.

“Working in partnership has been a part of the way we deliver our services for a long time now, and as we move towards an integrated system, there will be even more opportunity for collaboration.

The Bolton News:

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust Fiona Noden will serve as the board's "place-based lead for health and care integration"

“By working more closely with our partners, we will be able to bring our health and care services together to improve the offers and experiences of the people in our communities.

“We will be able to shift our focus from treating people to supporting them with their needs and helping them to live healthier by preventing the need for treatment in the first place.”

This is part of a wider move towards a new organisation, NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care which will work to oversee health and social care across the city region.