‘No patient data affected by cyber attack’

No patient data was affected by the cyber attack which disrupted NHS systems earlier this year, the Health Secretary has told MSPS.

Humza Yousaf was asked about the cyber attack on the NHS services provider Advanced which was first identified on August 4.

The ransomware attack hitallfournationsintheuk, crippling a system called Adastra. Responding to a question at Holyrood, Mr Yousaf said this was used by out-of-hours GPS in Scotland and it was brought back online in October.

He said: "Let me be completelyclear,presidingofficer, no NHS Scotland patient data was affected and wellestablished contingency arrangementswereinplace tosustaineffectivedelivery."

The Conservatives' Tess White said that following the attack, NHS staff had been forced to keep patient records on paper and emails. The Health Secretaryrepeatedthatnopatient data was affected and that contingencies were put in place.