Following last Friday’s Microsoft global IT outage, computer systems affected by the CrowdStrike software update have largely returned to normal. However, the British Medical Association (BMA) reports that the NHS and the wider healthcare industry continue to experience knock-on effects from the disruption. The temporary loss of the EMIS patient record system used by GPs has led to many appointments being rescheduled. Additionally, some callers to the NHS 111 line were informed that, due to the outage, information might not be passed on to hospitals or clinics as expected.
- NHS England Statement: Please read the latest statement from NHS England regarding the global IT outage.
- National Cyber Security Centre Update: Please also read this statement from The NCSC, which explains that affected organisations should follow vendor guidance to implement necessary fixes and mitigations. It also warns against an increase in phishing referencing this outage, as opportunistic malicious actors seek to take advantage of the situation.
We encourage all care providers to review these updates and take the necessary actions to ensure continuity of care during this disruption.