Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, a key provider of healthcare services in the UK and a constituent part of the National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust, has been the victim of a cyberattack, prompting an IT system failure that has led to the suspension of appointments and scheduled procedures.
The details of the assault were publicly revealed on Monday, and its repercussions persist.
WUTH is a leading public healthcare provider in the UK, operating three major hospitals: Arrowe Park, Clatterbridge, and Wirral Ladies and Kids’ Hospital.
The hospitals collectively comprise a significant portion of NHS Belief’s total bed capacity of 855, delivering comprehensive services including around-the-clock emergency care, acute medical treatment, essential care, surgery, diagnostics, pediatric services, maternity care, and cancer treatment.
A severe cyberattack forced WUTH to temporarily disable certain IT systems and transition to manual processes, resulting in unavoidable delays and operational setbacks.
“We are diligently working to resolve the issue following a serious incident declaration on the Believer earlier this week, stemming from a concentrated cybersecurity exercise.”
Upon identifying unusual physical activity, we proactively adapted our methods to mitigate any potential risks and prevent the situation from escalating. Some IT techniques were taken offline as a result.
“A spokesperson for the organization explained that they have resumed their enterprise continuity protocols and are employing manual processes using paper instead of digital tools in the impacted areas.”
As hospitals navigate ongoing staffing shortages, previously scheduled appointments and procedures have been reassigned, while urgent cases in emergency care have seen a significant surge.
The hospital advises the community to seek immediate medical attention at their emergency department only in genuine emergencies, as unnecessary visits can strain the healthcare system.
Meanwhile, an email was sent to worker members by WUTH on Monday, alerting them to a dire situation and informing them that restoring the procedures would require considerable time.
“Hospitals are struggling to adapt to electronic systems, with many tasks still requiring manual intervention. The lack of integration has resulted in significant inefficiencies, causing frustration among staff.”
Sufferers visiting Arrowe Park Hospital were informed that, due to the identical supply issue, X-rays, treatments, and surgeries are currently unavailable, with no estimated timeline for a return to normal services.
As of the report’s publication date, none of the known ransomware groups have claimed responsibility for the attack on WUTH.
BleepingComputer has reached out to the healthcare group seeking further information about the nature of the attack, but a comment was not immediately available.