Dozens of cancer patients hit as 800 operations axed after cyber-attack on London hospitals
Urgent cancer and transplant operations among 814 procedures cancelled More than 850 outpatient appointments were also axed due to cyber-attack Health officials fear it could be months before services are back to normal
Urgent cancer and transplant operations were among the 814 procedures cancelled following a cyber attack on hospitals, the NHS has admitted.
Health officials yesterday revealed that more than 850 outpatient appointments were also axed as they detailed the devastating impact of the attack for the first time.
Russian criminals working for the Qilin gang targeted the pathology firm Synnovis, which provides vital blood-testing services to NHS hospitals and GP surgeries.
The ruthless hackers crippled the company's computers on Monday, June 3, before demanding a ransom.
Bosses fear it will take months to fully recover, with further cancellations likely as the labs are only able to operate at 10 per cent of normal capacity.
Urgent cancer and transplant operations were among the 814 procedures cancelled following a cyber attack on hospitals, the NHS has admitted
Health officials yesterday revealed that more than 850 outpatient appointments were also axed as they detailed the devastating impact of the attack for the first time (file pic)
NHS London said affected organisations are largely in the south-east of the capital and include King's College Hospital, Guy's, St Thomas's and Evelina Children's Hospital, which remain in a 'critical incident'.
Across Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, as well as King's College Hospital, 814 elective procedures were postponed in the week following the attack, of which 97 were cancer treatments.
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Some 18 organs were diverted to other trusts and five planned Caesarean sections were rescheduled.
The two trusts also postponed 736 hospital outpatient appointments and 125 community outpatient appointments.
Local GP surgeries are only referring patients for urgent blood tests and A&E patients are not being checked for viruses such as HIV.
Dr Chris Streather, medical director for NHS London, said: 'NHS teams are working flat out to see as many patients as possible – but there is no doubt the ransomware cyber-attack on Synnovis is having a significant impact on services in south-east London.
'Having treatment postponed is distressing for patients and their families, and we apologise to all who have been impacted.
Russian criminals working for the Qilin gang targeted the pathology firm Synnovis, which provides vital blood-testing services to NHS hospitals and GP surgeries (file pic)
'Staff will work hard to re-arrange appointments and treatments as quickly as possible... [but] we expect disruption to be felt for some time.
'Sites impacted are continuing to prioritise the most urgent care, so please use services in the normal way by dialling 999 in an emergency and otherwise use NHS 111.
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'If you have not heard from your healthcare provider, please attend appointments as normal.'
Trusts are working to mitigate the impact by holding weekend clinics and moving some appointments and tests to other Trusts and labs.
NHS Blood and Transplant is also supplying extra stocks of 'universal' blood types, which do not require patients to have tests before receiving transfusions.
NHS London said it will issue weekly updates showing the impact of the attack, with data from other Trusts expected to be included in future publications.
Investigations are continuing to establish any possible impact to the integrity of Synnovis' data accessed by the gang.