17. 3. 2023
On June 3, 2024, a severe ransomware attack targeted Synnovis, a major provider of pathology services, significantly impacting several hospitals in London, including Guy’s and St Thomas’ and King’s College Hospital. This cyber attack has led to the cancellation of numerous operations and delayed critical blood transfusions, affecting patient care across the city.
NHS England's London region confirmed the attack, describing it as a "critical incident" due to its widespread impact on healthcare services. Emergency care remains available, and patients are advised to attend scheduled appointments unless otherwise notified. The National Cyber Security Centre and NHS cyber operations teams are working urgently to assess and mitigate the impact of this attack.
Mark Dollar, CEO of Synnovis, acknowledged the disruption and expressed deep regret for the inconvenience caused to patients and healthcare providers. The IT systems of Synnovis, crucial for managing pathology services, were severely affected, prompting the NHS to redirect some services to other providers and prioritize urgent care.
Quick Timeline of the Incident
June 3, 2024: Ransomware attack on Synnovis detected, impacting IT systems across multiple London hospitals.
June 4, 2024: NHS England declares a critical incident, with emergency measures put in place.
June 4, 2024: Hospitals begin canceling and redirecting operations to manage the impact on patient care.
Ongoing: National Cyber Security Centre and NHS cyber operations team work to restore services and assess the damage.
Impact and Response
The attack has highlighted the vulnerability of healthcare infrastructure to cyber threats and underscored the importance of robust cybersecurity measures in protecting essential services. The full recovery and restoration of normal operations may take several weeks as experts continue to address the fallout from the attack.
For the full news, visit NHS England and The Register​​​​.