GPs HIT BY CYBER ATTACK

Practices affected

Dunblane Medical Practice was among the NHS services hit by last Friday’s global cyber attack.

Forth Valley was among 11 area health boards affected by the ransomware, as were NHS National Services and the Scottish Ambulance Service.

However, the local impact was minimal in comparison to that in some other areas of the UK.

A message posted on Dunblane Medical Practice Facebook said: “Unfortunately our computer systems were affected by Friday’s cyber attack. We have fully restored our systems from the previous night’s back-up.

“All consultations recorded on Friday morning have also been retrieved, however, we have lost any appointments that were booked on Friday morning. If you booked an appointment on Friday, please contact the practice urgently as your appointment may have since been filled. Please share this with as many people as possible.”

A spokesperson for NHS Forth Valley said: “NHS Forth Valley was largely unaffected by the cyber attack. Patient care at all our sites was unaffected and there is no evidence that patient data was compromised. Three GP practices and a dental practice were affected and are operating as normal.”

The virus is known as Wanna Decryptor or WannaCry. It locks users’ files and demands a $300 (£230) payment to allow access.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said patient confidentiality had not been affected, adding: “One thing that is very important to stress is that there is no evidence that there has been any patient data compromised, so patient confidentiality hasn’t been affected, but of course there will have been an impact on patients with some appointments cancelled.”