November 28, 2024 at 07:35AM
A cybersecurity incident at a North West England NHS group has led to a return to pen-and-paper operations as IT systems are isolated. While maternity services and emergencies continue, patients may experience delays in appointments. Organizations are urged to visit urgent treatment centers instead of A&E for non-serious conditions.
**Meeting Takeaways: Cybersecurity Incident at Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Trust**
1. **Nature of Incident**: A cybersecurity issue has led to systems being taken offline, prompting a shift to pen-and-paper operations for affected sites.
2. **Current Status**: The Trust is currently implementing its business continuity processes and is coordinating with national cybersecurity services to return to normal operations as soon as possible.
3. **Patient Services Impact**:
– Some scheduled appointments are affected, and certain procedures have been postponed; however, services are still available.
– Patients are advised to attend their scheduled appointments unless notified otherwise.
4. **Maternity Services**:
– Initially confirmed to be running normally, the statement regarding maternity services has since been removed, indicating a possible change in availability or operations.
5. **Emergency Department Protocol**:
– The Trust advises against visiting A&E departments unless the condition is serious or life-threatening.
– Guidance has been updated; conditions such as minor injuries (e.g., bone breaks, joint sprains) are now encouraged to be seen at urgent treatment centers (UTCs) first.
– UTCs operate for approximately 12 hours a day, while A&E remains open 24/7.
6. **Waiting Times**:
– Longer-than-usual waiting times are expected for unplanned treatments in the emergency department due to the incident.
7. **Affected Locations**: The Trust oversees Arrowe Park Hospital, Clatterbridge Hospital, Wirral Women and Children’s Hospital, St Catherine’s Health Centre, and Victoria Central Health Centre, Wallasey.
These points summarize the key outcomes and updates resulting from the cybersecurity incident affecting the NHS Trust. Further monitoring and communication will be necessary as the situation develops.