Adrian Johnson
TLDR:
- A ransomware attack on a medical testing provider in London has caused major hospitals to declare emergency and cancel non-emergency surgeries and pathology appointments.
- Hospitals like Guy’s and St Thomas’ and King’s College Hospital Trusts have been affected, leading to cancellations of operations involving blood transfusions.
A ransomware attack on Synnovis, a medical testing provider, has caused several major hospitals in London to declare a critical incident emergency. The attack, detected on Monday, has disrupted services in six London boroughs, impacting blood tests, swabs, bowel tests, and other hospital services. As a result of the attack, hospitals like Guy’s and St Thomas’ and King’s College Hospital Trusts have had to cancel operations, including transplant surgeries that require blood transfusions.
Other hospitals, like Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals, have also been affected, leading to disruptions in primary care across southeast London. The attack may hamper trauma cases, as urgent blood components will only be transfused when critically indicated. The incident is currently being investigated by the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England, and the National Cyber Security Centre to ensure patient safety and support impacted organizations.
Ransomware attacks on healthcare providers have been on the rise, with a significant increase in attacks reported in recent years. Synnovis has reported the incident to law enforcement and relevant authorities, and is working with cybersecurity teams to resolve the issue and restore services. Patient care continues to be a priority, with emergency services still available for patients in need.
