Several London hospitals targeted by cyber attack

(Patria) - Several London hospitals have been hit by a cyber attack that prevents access to data necessary for transfusions and handling of blood products.

Due to the cyber attack, access to pathology department results is also blocked, leading to the cancellation of surgeries in three hospitals and transplants in two.

The BBC reports that five hospitals had to cancel all specialized cardio-vascular and pulmonary examinations due to the inability to access data from the British National Health Service system.

Hospitals have begun sending patients requiring emergency medical assistance or surgeries to nearby medical facilities not affected by the attack.

The administration responsible for the attacked hospitals confirmed that they are the target of a cyber attack that completely blocks access to the electronic healthcare system until a ransom is paid.

The last successful attack of this kind on the British National Health Service occurred in 2017, and no money was paid then.

The damage to the National Health Service at that time amounted to several hundred million pounds, as several hundred thousand examinations and surgeries were cancelled. It is still too early to estimate the extent of the damage this time.