Ransomware attack on hospitals in London

A ransomware attack has hit prominent hospitals in the British capital, according to a report. The consequences are not yet foreseeable.

Operations have been postponed in several London clinics due to a cyber attack. Blood transfusions were also not possible, the specialist journal “Health Service Journal” (HSJ) reported on Tuesday, citing internal news from the NHS health service. The reason was a “serious IT incident” at a pathology service provider. Some procedures and operations have been forwarded to other providers, it added.

Guy’s and St. Thomas’ hospitals were also affected. King’s College Hospital confirmed the attack to the British news agency PA.

Data not accessible for weeks?

According to the HSJ report, this is a so-called ransomware attack, in which criminals encrypt the data of companies or public administrations and demand a ransom for decryption. It will take “weeks rather than days” before data is accessible again, the newspaper quoted a source as saying.

There was speculation that emergency care in hospitals could be impaired as it may not be possible to access blood test results at short notice. Pathology departments help diagnose and treat diseases and infections by analyzing samples, including blood and tissue.

dpa