Reported NHS system ransomware issues – a local update

Following NHS Digital’s report of a ransomware attack on IT systems, health and care system partners are providing its stakeholders with an update of the areas affected.

Local services have instigated tried and tested Business Continuity Plans to help keep the NHS open for business, however some service areas have been affected by the ransomware attack.

Primary Care and GP practices in the Vale of York

Vale of York practices listed below have been affected. NHS Digital has said that at this stage there is no evidence that patient data has been accessed. Progress updates will be issued as soon as these become available.

York Medical Group (Acomb and Monkgate Surgeries)

Terrington Surgery, York

Unity Health Practice, York - 2 surgeries affected

Pharmacies and prescriptions

Your local pharmacy will still be available to provide confidential, expert advice and treatment for a range of common illnesses.

NHS 111

111, the fast, easy and free NHS non-emergency number is unaffected and remains available. NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for urgent medical help or advice, when it is not a life-threatening situation. The community is asked to make NHS 111 their first port of call if they:

- need medical help fast but it's not a 999 emergency; 

- think they need to go to A&E or need another NHS urgent care service; 

- don't know who to call or can’t contact a GP; 

- need health information or reassurance about what to do next.

York Hospital and the Emergency Department

York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is affected by the ransomware attack and the local community is asked to only attend A&E if it is absolutely necessary.

To allow staff to focus on urgent cases, it has been necessary for the Trust to cancel all planned operations and some routine MRI appointments this weekend. These will be rescheduled as soon as possible.

Appointments with the North Yorkshire Breast Screening Service have also been cancelled this weekend at Catterick, Helmsley, Pickering, Malton and York. These appointments will also be rescheduled as soon as possible. 

Routine outpatient appointments will continue as planned.

Residential and care homes

Staff, residents, and their families and carers will be concerned about access to care and if this is affected. Local health and social care partners would like to give reassurance that their partners in residential and care homes should contact NHS services in the usual way by calling 111 or 999.

Other sources of help

The NHS Choices website holds a huge amount of very helpful information about treating certain conditions and illnesses at home. This is also known as ‘self-care’. The information is available at www.nhs.uk 

Local health and care organisations would like to reassure patients that should they need the NHS in an emergency situation that they should access services as they would normally.

More widely, the community is asked to please use local health and care services carefully while the NHS deals with this ongoing major incident.

Statements and updates on the ransomware attack are issued by NHS Digital at https://digital.nhs.uk/article/328/Latest-news

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