Local hospitals hit by cyber attack: advice from Health Trust

Statement from NW London NHS Trust

Since Friday's cyber attack, staff across the Trust have been working tirelessly to ensure patients are cared for safely.

We identified the virus at 12.45pm on Friday (12 May) in three PCs and two servers. As soon as the virus was identified we took immediate action to protect our systems from any data loss and further corruption. 

As a precaution we shut down a number of IT systems and some services are currently using paper-based systems. It is the precautionary measures we have taken that have caused most disruption, not the virus itself.

We continue to work with NHS Digital and will begin to switch our IT systems back on when we feel it is safe to do so.

In the meantime we are asking the public to help our staff and visit our emergency departments for serious and life-threatening injuries and conditions only. Please consider the alternatives, such as visiting your local walk-in centre, pharmacy or calling 111 for minor injuries and advice. This will help relieve pressure on our services. 

Advice for patients 

Patients are asked to attend their appointment or operation as planned over the coming days, unless they have been contacted and told not to attend. If patients or their loved ones need to get in touch about their appointment or operation, please call (instead of email) our main hospital switchboards:

 

• Central Middlesex Hospital: 0208 965 5733 
• Ealing Hospital: 0208 967 5000
• Northwick Park and St. Mark's hospitals: 0208 864 3232

We apologise for any delays and cancellations that patients will experience and we thank you for your continued patience and cooperation as we work to resolve these issues.

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Since Friday's cyber attack, staff across the Trust have been working tirelessly to ensure patients are cared for safely.
We identified the virus at 12.45pm on Friday (12 May) in three PCs and two servers. As soon as the virus was identified we took immediate action to protect our systems from any data loss and further corruption.
As a precaution we shut down a number of IT systems and some services are currently using paper-based systems. It is the precautionary measures we have taken that have caused most disruption, not the virus itself.
We continue to work with NHS Digital and will begin to switch our IT systems back on when we feel it is safe to do so.
In the meantime we are asking the public to help our staff and visit our emergency departments for serious and life-threatening injuries and conditions only. Please consider the alternatives, such as visiting your local walk-in centre, pharmacy or calling 111 for minor injuries and advice. This will help relieve pressure on our services.
Advice for patients
Patients are asked to attend their appointment or operation as planned over the coming days, unless they have been contacted and told not to attend. If patients or their loved ones need to get in touch about their appointment or operation, please call (instead of email) our main hospital switchboards:

• Central Middlesex Hospital: 0208 965 5733 
  
• Ealing Hospital: 0208 967 5000
  
• Northwick Park and St. Mark's hospitals: 0208 864 3232
  

We apologise for any delays and cancellations that patients will experience and we thank you for your continued patience and cooperation as we work to resolve these issues.
- See more at: http://www.lnwh.nhs.uk/about-us/news-and-media/latest-news/cyber-attack-information-for-patients/#sthash.fVPMmwLk.dpuf

Since Friday's cyber attack, staff across the Trust have been working tirelessly to ensure patients are cared for safely.
We identified the virus at 12.45pm on Friday (12 May) in three PCs and two servers. As soon as the virus was identified we took immediate action to protect our systems from any data loss and further corruption.
As a precaution we shut down a number of IT systems and some services are currently using paper-based systems. It is the precautionary measures we have taken that have caused most disruption, not the virus itself.
We continue to work with NHS Digital and will begin to switch our IT systems back on when we feel it is safe to do so.
In the meantime we are asking the public to help our staff and visit our emergency departments for serious and life-threatening injuries and conditions only. Please consider the alternatives, such as visiting your local walk-in centre, pharmacy or calling 111 for minor injuries and advice. This will help relieve pressure on our services.
Advice for patients
Patients are asked to attend their appointment or operation as planned over the coming days, unless they have been contacted and told not to attend. If patients or their loved ones need to get in touch about their appointment or operation, please call (instead of email) our main hospital switchboards:

• Central Middlesex Hospital: 0208 965 5733 
  
• Ealing Hospital: 0208 967 5000
  
• Northwick Park and St. Mark's hospitals: 0208 864 3232
  

We apologise for any delays and cancellations that patients will experience and we thank you for your continued patience and cooperation as we work to resolve these issues.
- See more at: http://www.lnwh.nhs.uk/about-us/news-and-media/latest-news/cyber-attack-information-for-patients/#sthash.fVPMmwLk.dpuf

Since Friday's cyber attack, staff across the Trust have been working tirelessly to ensure patients are cared for safely.
We identified the virus at 12.45pm on Friday (12 May) in three PCs and two servers. As soon as the virus was identified we took immediate action to protect our systems from any data loss and further corruption.
As a precaution we shut down a number of IT systems and some services are currently using paper-based systems. It is the precautionary measures we have taken that have caused most disruption, not the virus itself.
We continue to work with NHS Digital and will begin to switch our IT systems back on when we feel it is safe to do so.
In the meantime we are asking the public to help our staff and visit our emergency departments for serious and life-threatening injuries and conditions only. Please consider the alternatives, such as visiting your local walk-in centre, pharmacy or calling 111 for minor injuries and advice. This will help relieve pressure on our services.
Advice for patients
Patients are asked to attend their appointment or operation as planned over the coming days, unless they have been contacted and told not to attend. If patients or their loved ones need to get in touch about their appointment or operation, please call (instead of email) our main hospital switchboards:

• Central Middlesex Hospital: 0208 965 5733 
  
• Ealing Hospital: 0208 967 5000
  
• Northwick Park and St. Mark's hospitals: 0208 864 3232
  

We apologise for any delays and cancellations that patients will experience and we thank you for your continued patience and cooperation as we work to resolve these issues.
- See more at: http://www.lnwh.nhs.uk/about-us/news-and-media/latest-news/cyber-attack-information-for-patients/#sthash.fVPMmwLk.dpuf

A big 'THANK YOU' to the nurses of Brent

Yesterday was 'Nurses Day' and I was busy with interviewing all day but I would like to say a belated thank you to all the nurses who I have encountered in recent visits to Northwick Park, St Marks and Central Middlesex hospital.

I have been impressed by their efforts to explain procedures, minimise pain and provide support. What impresses me above all is their team work alongside other NHS staff often accompanied by a stress reducing sense of humour.

Thank you.