NHS hack delays 14-year-old’s cancer surgery

TLDR:

• 14-year-old boy with cancer has operation postponed due to NHS cyber-attack.
• Attack on blood-testing firm Synnovis led to disruptions in clinical procedures at London hospitals.

Summary:

A 14-year-old boy named Dylan Kjorstad, diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, had his cancer operation postponed at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London due to a cyber-attack on the blood-testing firm Synnovis. This attack resulted in delays in blood supplies, affecting various hospital procedures. Dylan’s father expressed concerns about the impact of the delay on his son’s treatment. Similar disruptions were seen at other hospitals, leading to the postponement of over 180 cancer surgeries and outpatient appointments. The cyber-criminal gang Qilin is responsible for the attack and has shared stolen information online. NHS services are working to rearrange appointments quickly, but the incident has caused distress to patients and their families.