NHS infected by 8,000 computer viruses

NHS computers have been infected by more than 8,000 viruses in the past year.

A Freedom of Information investigation by More4 News found that malicious computer viruses have forced hospitals to divert non-emergency ambulances, and postpone blood tests and X-rays.

Other viruses locked administrative staff out of their computer systems, in one case creating a three-week back-log of appointments.

The worst virus, the Mytob worm, caused havoc in three major London hospitals in November 2008.

Mytob spread so quickly that it overloaded computer networks.

The viruses were easily preventable, More4 News said, and would have been blocked if security updates had been installed on NHS computer systems.

Ross Anderson, computer security expert from the University of Cambridge, said: “Where you find infections of computers, it’s very often symptomatic of poor management of IT, just as when you find infections with MRSA and C-difficile, that’s a symptom of poor management of the hospital, of poor management of hygiene and such basic things as cleaning the floors.”

The NHS responded to the report with a statement claiming “electronic patient records systems are protected by the highest levels of access controls and other security measures.”

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