Cyber attack impacts on Nenagh
Last week’s ransomware attack on the HSE’s IT systems is continuing to impact at a local level with a raft of services cancelled at Nenagh hospital.
The attack has not, however, affected the Covid-19 vaccination centre set up at the Abbey Court Hotel, where some 3,000 people have now been vaccinated. And with the reopening of non-essential retail this week for the first time since Christmas, there are positive signs in the Nenagh district with Covid-19 case numbers beginning to stabilise following last month’s outbreak.
The disruption to the HSE’s IT system means updates have been paused for now but the most recently released data indicates 81 new cases of the virus in the Nenagh district in the period April 27th to May 10th. The incidence rate was 379 per 100,000 people, well down from 594 in the previous period.
The cyber attack has led to widespread cancellations in scheduled care across all six sites in UL Hospitals Group including Nenagh. All outpatient clinics are cancelled, as are all elective inpatient and day case procedures, with the exception of time-critical cases.
UL Hospitals Group also advised this week that as of Tuesday all diagnostics including X-ray, CT scans, MRI appointments and cardiac investigations are cancelled, along with endoscopy services.
Maternity services including ante-natal clinics are going ahead, as is dialysis treatment, and cancer day ward (chemotherapy and radiotherapy) services, while the Acute Fracture Unit in Limerick remains open.
The Emergency Department (ED) at UHL continues to operate 24/7 but is very busy and UL Hospitals Group has appealed to members of the public to consider all care options (GP, GP out-of-hours, pharmacy, Injury Unit) and only attend the ED in an emergency. Non-urgent patients may experience significant delays.
Nenagh hospital's Injury Unit is open 8am to 8pm as usual, as are those of Ennis and St John's (closed at 7pm).
These service disruptions are expected to continue into next week. Updates will be posted to the HSE Service Disruption Website https://www2.hse.ie/services/hospital-service-disruptions/hse-it-system-cyber-attack.html and on the Twitter accounts @ulhospitals and @hselive. ULHG is encouraging patients to check on these sites for the most up to date information and has apologised to all who are experiencing delays and disruptions as a result of the cyber attack.