NHS cyber attack hits Tayside GP surgeries

Ransomware virus affects 10 centres

A cyber attack causing chaos to computer systems across the UK yesterday infected computers in medical centres in Courier Country.

Hawkhill Medical Centre in Dundee said their computers were hit by a ransomware virus yesterday afternoon, which affected how staff could access patient records.

Non-emergency patients were advised to put off visiting the surgery until Tuesday.

Ten Tayside GP surgeries were attacked by the virus, which shows a striking “demand notice” asking for a ransom of online currency Bitcoin – threatening to delete files if money is not transferred.

Dr Andrew Cowie, of Hawkhill Medical Centre, said: “This attack could affect our IT systems over the course of the weekend, and we will be open on Monday but we cannot guarantee the systems will be back up and running by then.

“We are advising that if you can wait to see a member of staff at Hawkhill until Tuesday then please do, and if you do have an emergency we will, of course, be open on Monday morning as normal.”

A spokesperson for NHS Tayside said: “No NHS Tayside systems or hospital sites have been affected by Friday’s UKwide cyber attack – there is no impact on NHS Tayside’s emergency departments or out of hours service.”

A spokeswoman for NHS Fife said the attack affected “a small non-operational area of NHS Fife’s system” which was isolated and taken off the network.

She said staff continue to be able to access patient records and clinical systems are unaffected, while out of hours services remain open and available.

There were also reports of problems in Perth, while NHS Forth Valley said some of their GP surgeries were also caught up in the incident.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon chaired a resilience meeting last night.

There is no impact on NHS Tayside’s emergency departments or out of hours service. NHS TAYSIDE SPOKESPERSON

Dr Andrew Cowie, of Hawkhill Medical Centre, said the attack could affect their IT systems over the weekend.