Ransomware attack continues to disrupt healthcare in London nearly two years later

More than 18 months after a ransomware attack disrupted care at hospitals in South East London, internal documents show at least one NHS trust is still working without fully restored systems and managing large backlogs of delayed test results. The delays mean results may not be available when clinicians need them, increasing the risk they are missed or acted on late.

The June 2024 attack on Synnovis impaired blood testing across South East London, forcing hospitals to cancel operations and delay treatment. It also affected blood supplies, leaving stocks in what officials described as a “very fragile position” and prompting warnings that only the most critical transfusions might be prioritized.

The attack by the Qilin ransomware group also involved the theft and publication of sensitive patient data. Reporting indicated that information relating to nearly one million NHS patients may have been exposed, including individuals with conditions such as cancer and sexually transmitted infections. Many patients were not notified until late 2025.

Read more at The Record