Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Trust reports cyberattack, declares major incident
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The Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Trust, which manages multiple healthcare facilities in North West England including Wirral Women and Children's Hospital, Clatterbridge Hospital, and Arrowe Park Hospital, has declared a "major incident" due to cybersecurity issues that began on Monday 25th of November 2024.
The incident has led to significant disruptions in healthcare services across all Trust facilities.
- All outpatient appointments have been canceled for two consecutive days
- Emergency departments are restricted to genuine emergencies only (chest pains, choking, serious injuries)
- The incident is affecting multiple hospital departments beyond emergency services
- Business continuity processes have been activated
The Trust has implemented alternative care guidance for non-urgent cases, directing patients to use NHS 111, walk-in centers, urgent treatment centers, GPs, or pharmacists. They have committed to contacting affected patients to reschedule canceled appointments, though no timeline has been provided.
The exact nature of the incident and the number of affected individuals have not been disclosed. The Trust has not confirmed whether ransomware is involved or if any patient data has been compromised.
