Hero who put block on virus ‘concerned for privacy’
OPERATIONS AND appointments at some hospitals in Yorkshire have been cancelled after the international cyber attack caused chaos for NHS trusts.
York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, which runs hospitals in York and Scarborough, was forced to scrap some patient appointments over the weekend and yesterday.
The cyber attacks, using malicious software to hold workers to ransom by freezing their computers, started on Friday and first wreaked havoc on some 47 NHS organisations before spreading to 150 different countries.
In Yorkshire, bone operations and musculoskeletal appointments at hospitals in Scarborough, York and Selby were cancelled this weekend and disruption continued for some patients yesterday after the trust’s IT systems were infected with the WannaCry malware.
Patrick Crowley, chief executive at the York NHS trust, said: “The situation will be reviewed daily and information will be shared regarding any cancellations to appointments and services later in the week.
“There will be some delays to our services as we recover from the effects of the cyber attack, and we ask for people’s patience and understanding as we work to fully restore our systems.
“We will ensure that we re-schedule any cancelled appointments as soon as possible.”
Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust were also targeted on Friday but a spokesman said its IT department managed to prevent any significant impact.
Elsewhere, breast cancer screening appointments today at Catterick, Pickering, Helmsley, Malton and York have been cancelled. Appointments were scrapped yesterday for X-ray bone scans at Scarborough hospital, the majority outpatient appointments at Selby Hospital and some at Clifton Chapel in York.
The trust was forced to cancel operations of the weekend after the cyber attacks on Friday, which led to its radiology and pathology systems failing, and patients were urged to ensure it was an emergency before attending their A&E departments.
In West Yorkshire, Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust suspended internet access and some computer services for staff after the virus began circulating on Friday, and the trust remains unaffected.
GP practices and clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) across the UK, including some in Yorkshire, were also targeted.
NHS Digital, which is co-ordinating responses and guidance to the malware attack, said it was continuing to work “around the clock” with the National Cyber Security Centre to support NHS trusts affected by the cyber strike.
A spokesperson said: “Our Data Security Centre continues to provide 24/7 specialist support to help NHS organisations, their in-house IT teams and staff deal with the NHS cyber attack.
“NHS Digital’s focus remains on working around the clock to give expert assistance, including tailored advice and on-site support, to frontline bodies.” THE BRITISH IT expert credited with slowing the spread of the global cyber attack has claimed he is more concerned for his privacy than his safety.
The security researcher, named in reports as Marcus Hutchins, was hailed an “accidental hero” for his discovery of the WannaCry virus’s kill switch.
Despite saying he feared a “terrible” retribution for his efforts, the 22-year-old clarified that he wished to be left to carry out his business in peace.
An international operation is under way to find the perpetrators behind the unprecedented attack which has infected 200,000 machines in 150 countries since Friday.
The cyber specialist, known as MalwareTech, told “In future someone might want to retaliate – they could find my identity within seconds.
“If they know where I live, they could really do anything.”
But on Monday, he tweeted: “For the record I don’t ‘fear for my safety’, I’m just unhappy with trying to help clear up Friday’s mess with the doorbell going constantly.”
In his interview, MalwareTech referred to the case of another security blogger who was subject to intimidation, including death threats, after his identity was leaked online.
“I’ve seen posts about the terrible things people have done to him and for me in future it could be the same things,” he said.
Writing on Twitter, he said journalists had already tracked down a friend, whose photograph was published in the press and turned up at her house. He said: “Please if you want an interview that badly, DM me.”
On Monday, he added: “Current Policy: If you turn up at my house you’re crossed off the list of potential media outlets I will do an exclusive with.”
The keen surfer, who reportedly lives in Devon, was praised by the National Cyber Security Centre for his part in tackling the virus.