Arrowe Park Hospital, part of the Wirral University Teaching Hospital Trust (WUTH) in England, has declared a “major incident” following a suspected cyber attack that disrupted its operations on the evening of November 25, 2024. The cyber attack has caused significant disruptions, particularly in the hospital’s emergency department, where longer wait times are anticipated. This incident has prompted WUTH to activate its business continuity protocols to ensure the safety and care of patients despite the technical challenges.
As part of the response, WUTH is advising the public to attend the emergency department only in the case of a genuine emergency. For non-urgent medical needs, patients are urged to visit other healthcare facilities such as walk-in centers, GP offices, or pharmacies. The hospital has emphasized the importance of reserving emergency department resources for critical cases to minimize the impact on those in urgent need of care.
In response to the cyber attack, the Trust has deployed information security experts to assess and resolve the issue. The ongoing disruption underscores the growing risks that cyber incidents pose to healthcare organizations, which increasingly rely on digital infrastructure for both patient care and internal operations. WUTH has assured the public that patient safety remains its top priority, and it is working diligently to restore normal operations as quickly as possible.
This major incident serves as a reminder of the vulnerability of healthcare systems to cyber threats. As more hospitals and healthcare providers become targets of cybercriminals, ensuring robust cybersecurity measures and swift incident response protocols is crucial to maintaining continuity of care. WUTH has assured the community that it will continue to monitor the situation closely and take all necessary actions to prevent similar incidents in the future.
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