Over 8,000 computer viruses have infected NHS computers over the last year
The viruses caused appointments to be rescheduled without any prior notice given to patients, the loss of test results and NHS staff to be locked out of their computers for several days. There is also the concern that personal information could have been at risk of theft, because the viruses that infected the computers are also used by hackers to steal personal information.
Following a Freedom of Information request, it emerged more than 8,000 viruses got through security systems with 12 incidents affecting clinical departments, therefore impacting on patient care. Some seventy-five per cent of NHS trusts across the UK responded to the request. Fifty-one appointments or radio therapy sessions were rescheduled at Beatson cancer centre in Scotland without any prior warning. Patients showed up for critical treatment and had to be turned away.
