UK Hospitals Report Tech Problems in Possible Cyberattack

LONDON — (AP) Several British hospitals say they are having major computer problems as the result of an apparent cyberattack.

Hospitals in London, northwest England and other parts of the country are reporting problems with their computer systems Friday. They have asked patients not to come to the hospitals unless it was an emergency.

NHS Merseyside, which operates several hospitals in northwest England, tweeted that “following a suspected national cyberattack, we are taking all precautionary measures possible to protect our local NHS systems and services.”

Britain’s National Health Service is a great source of pride for many in the nation but has been facing substantial budget issues.
British Prime Minister Theresa May says the cyberattack is part of a wider international attack.

May says there is no evidence that patient data has been compromised.

Hospitals across the country have been hit by a “ransomware” attack that froze computers, shutting wards, closing emergency rooms and bringing treatment to a halt. The infected computer screens demand payment for the data to be released.

Similar widespread attacks have been reported in Spain and other countries.