Patients in London are facing unprecedented delays in blood test results due to a cyber attack on Synnovis, a company providing pathology services to several NHS trusts. The impact is being felt most acutely at King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, where staff have been forced to revert to manual processes for some tests.
The disruption has significant implications for patient care, as blood tests are essential for diagnosing conditions, monitoring treatments, and preparing for surgical procedures. According to the NHS, over 90% of hospital diagnoses rely on pathology results, which means that even short-term delays can have a ripple effect throughout the healthcare system.
NHS England has confirmed that it is working closely with Synnovis and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to investigate the breach and restore services as soon as possible. In the meantime, patients are being advised not to attend appointments unless specifically asked to do so, and those with urgent concerns about their health should contact their GP or NHS 111 for advice.
The incident highlights the vulnerability of healthcare infrastructure to cyber threats, and the need for robust cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive patient data. According to NHS Digital, there were over 4,000 reported cyber security incidents in English NHS trusts between April 2022 and March 2023 alone. This latest attack serves as a stark reminder of the importance of prioritising digital security within healthcare systems.
Source: King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust