A ransomware attack has disrupted the operations of three major hospitals in London, resulting in delays for surgeries, blood tests, and transfusions that could last for weeks.
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is currently investigating the incident to determine the source of the cyber attack, which caused chaos in the A&E departments on Tuesday.
NHS leaders have reported a significant impact on King’s College Hospital, Guy’s and St Thomas’, as well as GP services in south-east London.
According to security sources, the hack is believed to be the work of a criminal gang rather than a state-sanctioned attack.
The Department of Health and Social Care is collaborating with the NCSC in response to the attack on Synnovis, a private company that offers pathology services to major hospitals and GP surgeries in the capital.
Pathology services play a crucial role in diagnosing and treating illnesses and infections by analyzing samples such as blood and tissue.
Patients awaiting surgeries and other medical tests have been affected by last-minute cancellations or have been redirected to alternative NHS providers as hospital administrators assess which procedures can be safely carried out. Blood tests and transfusions have been particularly impacted by the cyber attack.
