Key services across the UK, including the NHS, GP practices, and schools, have been impacted by a global Microsoft outage. Pharmacies and businesses have also been affected as email and messaging services experienced disruption.
NHS England has advised patients to continue attending appointments unless instructed otherwise. Several large police forces are urging the public to call them to report crimes, as online forms may be affected. The government is working with Microsoft to assess the impact on its services, and local authorities have warned of disruptions to some council services.
Microsoft stated that services are now gradually being restored globally following a problem caused by higher-than-usual stress on its servers, though users may still experience disruption. The full extent of the outage, which affects Outlook, Teams, and Copilot, and the time needed for full restoration, remains unclear.
The NHS Alliance, representing the healthcare system in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, confirmed the outage is affecting some services, including emails. NHS trusts in England are implementing measures to minimise disruption to critical services. Patients are advised to use 999 for emergencies and 111 by phone or online, or contact their local pharmacy for other needs.
The National Pharmacy Association noted the outage is affecting pharmacies' ability to communicate with GP practices and some patients, potentially leading to longer waits and prescription delays. Schools have also been affected, with teachers, office staff, and parents unable to access key resources. Universities have experienced disruption to online systems, with some extending deadlines or waiving late submission penalties.
Royal Mail has reported some online services are unavailable and email notifications about deliveries may be impacted, though post collection and delivery continue as normal. MPs have been unable to access parliamentary accounts, and the Scottish government has activated its "resilience operations" to assess the outage's impact.