No patient data was at risk of disclosure, said William Mach, an NHS spokesman. As a precaution, computers were shut down at St Bartholomew's, the Royal London Hospital and The London Chest Hospital.
When the infection became known, ambulances were diverted to other hospitals, as it was easier to admit patients using unaffected computer systems rather than revert to a paper-based admission systems, Mach said.
The hospitals are now taking emergency patients again, he said.
Official are investigating how the infection occurred, although it did not appear to be malicious, Mach said.
Here is a site with more information:
Question:
If there are Malware infection with no threat what are some other reasons for malware to be put in place if there not negative effects?
This is a really interesting demonstration of how reliant the modern world is. And with continuing pressure for Electronic Health Records, the health care establishment is becoming all the more vulnerable to electronic attack.
ReplyDeleteThe effect of a malicious attack on multiple hospitals would clearly debilitate the intake and processing of patients using a paper based system. Hopefully with all the pressure to digitize health care, providers will remember how to function with paper based methods.