Cyber attack is a real wake-up call
How dare lives be put at risk by hackers? What right do these people have to electronically interfere with the medical care of thousands of people? Who knows how many have had cancer treatment delayed or operations cancelled.
The reality is that our NHS was brought to its knees and this should be a warning to us all. Clearly, the firewalls we have been lured into believing are protecting our healthcare, economy and security don’t work. It seems little has been learned if we haven’t got back-up systems to protect our personal data, money and lives.
What a wake-up call this unprecedented wave of cyber attacks is. ST Vaughan, Yardley Wood, Birmingham # In view of the NHS ransomware attack, let’s thank the gods we scrapped ex-Labour Home Secretary David Blunkett’s proposed lunatic ID Card and national database scheme. Now we must scrap the so-called snoopers’ charter. If GCHQ (Government Communications Headquarters) can access our files, so will the hackers – with disastrous results. And why didn’t GCHQ warn the NHS that their outdated operating systems were a security risk? That’s their job. Barry Tighe, Woodford Green, North London # The blame for this attack can be laid squarely at the door of the Tories. They have consistently cut funding for the NHS and haven’t upgraded its IT system.
The only surprise is that such a cyber attack hasn’t happened sooner. Sheila Fox, Crawley, West Sussex # I’m amazed at the number of organisations affected by the cyber attack. People should know that the older software is vulnerable to attack. Once again the scrimpers have paid the price. John Hudson, Derby # In my view, Jeremy Hunt is responsible for the cyber attack which struck the NHS.
There were warnings given last year about this and they were ignored. Surely, Mr Hunt now has to go?
How embarrassing would that be for the Government in this pre-election period? Kate Greenhalgh, Nottingham # Has anyone noticed the “strong and stable” leadership shown by Secretary of State for Health Jeremy Hunt in the aftermath of the ransomeware cyber attack on the NHS which has infected more than 40 hospitals? Me neither. Sasha Simic, North London # All NHS systems should have been updated, but because of cuts an IT team was not deployed to the important task. The NHS is safe in the Tories hands? I don’t think so. Wilf Eccles, Pontefract, West Yorks