A UK hospital is declaring a “major incident,” cancelling all outpatient appointments due to “cybersecurity reasons.”
The Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Trust, near Liverpool, said the “incident” affects the whole Trust, which oversees Wirral Women and Children’s Hospital, Clatterbridge Hospital, and Arrowe Park Hospital.
Although the technical problems began on Monday (yesterday, 25.11.24), officials confirmed it is still dealing with the fallout as of Tuesday morning.
All outpatient appointments were cancelled on Monday and the same decision was made today, according to Arrowe Park and Clatterbridge’s social media posting. All patients whose appointments were cancelled will be contacted to rearrange them.
Locals have been asked to only attend the hospitals’ emergency departments for genuine emergencies which include chest pain, choking, and serious injury.
The issue is affecting the wider hospital departments, not just accident and emergency – exactly how it is manifesting is still under wraps. Ransomware (again) is a possibility.
This is the Trust’s official statement on X.
A major incident has been declared at the Trust for cyber security reasons.
All outpatient appointments scheduled today are cancelled.
We urge all members of the public to attend the Emergency Department only for genuine emergencies. For non-urgent health concerns, please use NHS 111, visit a walk-in centre, urgent treatment centre (UTC), your GP, or pharmacist.”
