A major cyberattack has disrupted operations at Wirral University Teaching Hospital (WUTH), part of the NHS Foundation Trust, leading to postponed appointments and procedures.
The incident, which began earlier this week, continues to impact the hospital’s IT systems and is expected to persist through the weekend.
The hospital declared a major incident after detecting suspicious activity in its network. As a precautionary measure, WUTH isolated its systems to prevent the spread of the problem, resulting in some IT systems going offline.
The healthcare provider has reverted to manual operations, using paper-based processes instead of digital systems in affected areas.
A spokesperson for WUTH stated:-
“We are working hard to rectify the issue after a major incident was declared at the Trust earlier this week following a targeted cyber security issue.”
Researchers noted that the hospital is collaborating closely with national cybersecurity services to restore normal operations as soon as possible.
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Wirral University Teaching Hospital Cyberattack
While emergency services remain available, the cyberattack has caused significant disruptions to planned services.
Some scheduled appointments and procedures have been postponed and will need to be rescheduled. Patients are advised to attend their scheduled appointments with their appointment letters unless contacted otherwise.
The Trust continues to prioritize emergency treatment, but patients may experience longer than usual waiting times for unplanned treatment in the Emergency Department and assessment areas. The public is urged to seek emergency care only for genuine emergencies.
WUTH operates several healthcare facilities, including Arrowe Park Hospital, Clatterbridge Hospital, and Wirral Women and Children’s Hospital.
Collectively, these hospitals contribute to the NHS Trust’s total of 855 beds and provide a wide range of services, including 24-hour emergency care, acute medical services, critical care, and specialized treatments.
The nature of the cyberattack has not been officially confirmed, but the response suggests it may be a ransomware attack. As of now, no known ransomware groups have claimed responsibility for the incident, and it remains unclear if any data has been stolen.
This cyberattack on WUTH is part of a series of recent security breaches affecting the UK’s healthcare system. In response to these challenges, the UK Government plans to introduce a Cyber Security Resilience Bill next year to strengthen the nation’s cybersecurity framework.
Moreover, WUTH staff are working tirelessly to ensure that patient safety remains the top priority while they work towards resolving the cyber incident and restoring normal operations.
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