In a shocking turn of events, patients in south-east London are facing delays of up to six months for blood tests due to a Russian cyber-attack on the NHS. As a result, some patients are opting to pay for private testing rather than endure the lengthy wait. The hacking gang’s seizure of 300 million pieces of NHS data has left hospitals unable to provide essential blood tests, forcing patients to seek alternatives.
The situation has prompted concerns about the impact on patient care, with only urgent blood tests being prioritized by healthcare providers. The attack has caused major disruptions, leading to canceled operations and outpatient appointments at key NHS trusts.
As the NHS works to address the cyber-attack fallout, patients are left grappling with uncertainty and frustration. While Synnovis, the affected pathology services provider, seeks to restore functionality, the road to normalcy remains uncertain. The government is contemplating retaliatory measures against the hackers, but for now, patients are left waiting for vital healthcare services.