Following his ‘road to recovery’ tour, health secretary Sajid Javid has given a speech at the Health Service Journal’s Digital Transformation Summit, focussing on levelling up across the NHS and social care.

At the top of his agenda was a “particular focus on social care” where around 40% of providers are still grappling entirely with paper-based records.

“I want all social care providers to adopt a digital record for social care,” he commented. “We will work with the sector to deliver this in the most effective way we can, and offer support to those who need it.”

The government has announced at least £150 million to help drive digitisation in social care, and a target of 80% of social care providers to have digital social care records by March 2024.

“The case for these records is beyond doubt and I expect every health and social care setting to see this as part of their basic responsibilities in looking after those in need,” he added. “After all, when it comes to matters of life and death, we must embrace everything that has the potential to make care safer and more seamless.”

His full speech can be read here.