Video: Andy Burnham: 'health and social care should be integrated' Labour announced that it would set up an independent commission to examine how health and social care can be integrated, and Ed Miliband has warned of a multi-billion pound black hole in NHS funding to meet the care needs of an ageing population unless there is reform. Under the Labour plans more care will be provided directly in people's homes, there will be a greater focus on prevention and better co-ordination between different branches of the system. Mr Burnham expressed concern that "too many hospitals in England do not have adequate staffing levels at the moment." He said that there were lessons to be learnt from the Mid Staffordshire scandal, and added that many older people "do not get all of the care that they need" in hospital. "They need mental health support and also social care too, but often in hospital, older people are left disorientated, dehydrated because hospitals are not looking after all of their needs - just looking after some of their needs and this is why we're bringing forward this proposal to bring care together - whole person care, physical, mental and social care - in one service," he said. David Cameron, meanwhile, has defended the Government's plans to make nurses work as health care assistants before qualifying.