Russian cyber attack on hospitals ‘contributed to patient death'
King's College Hospital, in south London, said that a patient died 'unexpectedly' during the cyber attack.
And an investigation into the death found a 'number of contributing factors' including a 'long wait for a blood test result due to the cyber attack'.
Pathology services provider Synnovis was the victim of a ransomware attack by a Russian cyber gang in June last year.
As a result more than 10,000 appointments were cancelled at the two London NHS trusts that were worst affected.
And a significant number of GP practices in London were unable to order blood tests for their patients.
A King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust spokesperson said: 'One patient sadly died unexpectedly during the cyber-attack.
'As is standard practice when this happens, we undertook a detailed review of their care.
'The patient safety incident investigation identified a number of contributing factors that led to the patient's death.
'This included a long wait for a blood test result due to the cyber attack impacting pathology services at the time.
'We have met with the patient's family, and shared the findings of the safety investigation with them.'
Earlier this month health officials confirmed that 170 patients have suffered harm as a result of the attack.
Mark Dollar, chief executive of Synnovis, said: 'We are deeply saddened to hear that last year's criminal cyber attack has been identified as one of the contributing factors that led to this patient's death.
'Our hearts go out to the family involved.'
A Government spokesperson said: 'Our deepest sympathies are with the family of the patient.
'This tragedy is a reminder of the threat Russia poses to our day-to-day life and how serious the consequences of these attacks can be to our critical infrastructure.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
2 hours ago
- Metro
Experts demand study into weight loss jab side effects amid rapid rollout
Hundreds of people have reported problems with their pancreas after taking weight loss drugs, with a new study launched to find out if there may be genetic risk factors. Ten people have died after reportedly taking GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonists, which are also used to treat diabetes. None of the deaths are confirmed as being caused by the jabs, but those who reported the side effects suspect they may be. The news comes as GPs get the green light to prescribe weight loss jabs for the first time, to patients with a BMI of 40 or above who also have related health conditions such as heart disease and high blood pressure. The mass rollout will see around 220,000 people with the 'greatest need' receive Mounjaro, also known as tirzepatide, through the NHS over the next three years. Until now, people could only access the drug through a special weight loss service, or for diabetes. Data from the medicines regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), shows that since the drugs were first licensed there have been hundreds of cases of acute and chronic pancreatitis among people taking GLP-1 medicines. Suspected cases of bad reactions to the jabs include: 181 reported cases of acute and chronic pancreatitis linked to tirzepatide – the active ingredient for Mounjaro. Five people died. 116 reported reactions of this kind linked to liraglutide, one of which was fatal. 113 cases of acute and chronic pancreatitis linked to semaglutide – the active ingredient for Ozempic and Wegovy. One person died. 101 reported reactions of this kind linked to exenatide, three people died. 52 reported reactions of this sort linked to dulaglutide and 11 reported reactions lixisenatide. No fatalities were linked to either drug. It collects information on adverse effects of medicines under theYellow Card system, where patients are invited to submit their experience. The MHRA wants to find out whether some patients could be more at risk of pancreas problems due to their genes. Working alongside Genomics England for the Yellow Card Biobank project, it is now calling on people who have been admitted to hospital due to acute pancreatitis after taking the jabs to submit a side effects report to Yellow Card. When it is received, patients will be contacted to ask if they would be willing to take part in the study, which would involve submitting more information and a saliva sample, so their DNA can be examined to see if there any possible risk factors can be identified. GLP-1 agonists can lower blood sugar levels in people living with type 2 diabetes and can also be prescribed to support some people with weight loss. By mimicking hormones that send a message to our brains that we are full up, they encourage patients to eat less. Recent estimates suggest that about 1.5 million people in the UK are taking weight loss jabs sucyh as Wegovy and Mounjaro. They have been hailed a 'game-changer' by health secretary Wes Streeting, who says they can save the NHS billions by solving the obesity crisis and even tackle employment by making people fit enough to work. But health officials have stressed they are not a silver bullet and do come with side effects. Most linked to the jabs are gastrointestinal including nausea, constipation and diarrhoea. The medical regulator recently warned that Mounjaro may make the oral contraceptive pill less effective in some patients. Patients typically regain most of their lost weight unless they keep taking the jabs long-term, studies have shown. Dr Alison Cave, MHRA's chief safety officer, said: 'Evidence shows that almost a third of side effects to medicines could be prevented with the introduction of genetic testing, it is predicted that adverse drug reactions could cost the NHS more than £2.2 billion a year in hospital stays alone.' Ashley O'Driscoll, from Dublin, told Metro how she lost half her weight on Ozempic, but piled it back on when she could no longer afford the prescription. Having endured years of failed diets, slimming clubs and exercise regimes, Ashley admits the jab felt like a last resort when the waiting list for surgery was too long – and she wasn't entirely convinced it would work. She obtained a prescription from her doctor, picked up her first dose from the pharmacy, took it home and injected it into her abdomen. Despite a few mild side effects of headaches and nausea, Ashley's weight started to fall away within the first week. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 'It was great; it started coming off very quickly and I noticed the 'food noise' disappear,' she remembers. 'You're not constantly thinking about your next meal and what you're going to eat. It decreases your appetite and makes you feel full for longer. 'On Ozempic, I might have a breakfast of porridge and honey and then not eat again for another six hours. I would have a soup or something really small for lunch, then a small dinner.' But after losing 12 stone, she was left with sagging skin, and also fell ill with gallstones, which can happen with rapid weight loss. 'Going on Ozempic was one of the best things I ever did, but it's not all sunshine and rainbows,' she said. 'It brings with it a lot of trauma from being overweight and trying to accept your new body. I'm not there yet. 'A lot of people think, 'Oh, it's just a case of you lose the weight and it's over' – and it's far from it. It's trying to deal with and accept everything that comes with it, and it's a work in progress. You have to maintain that weight. You're always working on your body. It's never ending.' Professor Matt Brown, chief scientific officer of Genomics England, said: 'GLP-1 medicines like Ozempic and Wegovy have been making headlines, but like all medicines there can be a risk of serious side effects. 'We believe there is real potential to minimise these with many adverse reactions having a genetic cause. 'This next step in our partnership with the MHRA will generate data and evidence for safer and more effective treatment through more personalised approaches to prescription, supporting a shift towards an increasingly prevention-focused healthcare system.' A spokesperson for Lilly, which makes Mounjaro, said: 'Patient safety is Lilly's top priority. We take reports regarding patient safety seriously and actively monitor, evaluate, and report safety information for all our medicines. Adverse events should be reported under the MHRA's Yellow Card scheme, but may be caused by other factors, including pre-existing conditions. 'The Mounjaro (tirzepatide) Patient Information Leaflet warns that inflamed pancreas (acute pancreatitis) is an uncommon side effect (which may affect up to 1 in 100 people). It also advises patients to talk to their doctor or other healthcare professional before using Mounjaro if they have ever had pancreatitis. More Trending 'We encourage patients to consult their doctor or other healthcare professional regarding any side effects they may be experiencing and to ensure that they are getting genuine Lilly medicine. ' A spokesperson for Novo Nordisk UK, which manufactures Ozempic and Wegovy, said: 'Patient safety is of the utmost importance to Novo Nordisk. Like all medications, side effects can occur and vary from patient to patient. The known risks and benefits of GLP1 medicines are described in the Summary of Product Characteristics. 'We recommend that patients take these medications only for their approved indications and under the strict supervision of a healthcare professional, who can also advise on potential side effects. 'We continuously collect safety data on our marketed GLP-1 medicines and work closely with the authorities to ensure patient safety. The benefit-risk profile of our GLP-1 medicines remains positive, and we welcome any new research that will improve our understanding of treatments for people living with chronic diseases.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Everything we know so far about the NHS maternity investigation MORE: Heatwave set to kill almost 600 people with amber health alerts urgently issued MORE: Urgent recall for cough syrup over risk of deadly food poisoning
Times
2 hours ago
- Times
One child in every school class is an IVF baby, data shows
One child in every British school class is born as a result of IVF treatment, figures have suggested. Nearly 21,000 babies were born after IVF fertility treatment in 2023, fresh data from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) showed. Just 8,700 people underwent IVF treatment in the year 2000, it added. 'IVF births are making up a higher proportion of all UK births over time, increasing from 1.3 per cent in 2000 to 3.1 per cent in 2023,' the authority said. 'This means around one in 32 UK births in 2023 were via IVF — roughly one child in every classroom — compared to one in 43 in 2013.' The authority said that these latest numbers showed a 'changing landscape' of fertility care clinics. Some 11 per cent of births for women aged 40-44 were after IVF treatment, increasing from 4 per cent in the year 2000. More women are also freezing their eggs, rising from 4,700 in 2022 to 6,900 in 2023. The HFEA added that the number of women using their frozen eggs for treatment remained 'low'. It also said that about 820 babies were also born after donor insemination treatment in 2023. The figures also showed a slump in the proportion of treatments funded by the NHS. Just 27 per cent of IVF cycles were funded by the NHS in 2023, compared with 35 per cent in 2019. In Scotland, 54 per cent were funded by the health service, compared with 49 per cent in Northern Ireland, 33 per cent in Wales and 24 per cent in England. The HFEA said that in recent years, Asian and black patients have had lower birth rates compared with white patients and those from a mixed ethnic background. Julia Chain, chairwoman of the HFEA, said: 'IVF is helping more people have babies including patients of different ages and family types. • Centuries-old preference for baby boys may be coming to an end 'We are also seeing more single patients and female same-sex couples having IVF. These findings highlight the changing landscape of the UK fertility sector and how it could develop in the years to come. 'However, we are very concerned to see that black and Asian patients continue to have lower IVF birth rates compared to other patient groups, and our recent survey found that Asian and black patients are less likely to report being satisfied with their fertility treatment.' The fertility rate in 2023 was the lowest on record, with each woman having an average of 1.44 children, according to the Office for National Statistics. Commenting on the HFEA data, a spokesman from Fertility Network UK, said: 'This important report reflects how essential fertility treatment has become for growing families in the UK and underlines not just the scientific advances in fertility care, but also the profound social impact of helping people realise their dreams of parenthood. 'Delays in accessing treatment — whether due to long GP referral times or inconsistent NHS funding — can have a devastating emotional and biological impact. We call for fair and timely access to fertility services for all, wherever they live and whatever their background.'
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Family doctors must ask if patients are secretly using fat jabs, say health experts
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FAMILY doctors should ask if patients are secretly using fat jabs, experts say. People with symptoms such as dizziness or gut pain could be suffering side effects from the drugs or have a separate illness. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Family doctors should ask if patients are secretly using fat jabs Credit: Alamy GPs could also advise about stopping the weight-loss injections before becoming pregnant and the chance of long-term risks. About 1.5 million people are privately buying medicines such as Wegovy, Mounjaro and Ozempic. Users should discuss it with their surgery, but NHS doctors will generally not help patients medicate themselves. Obesity Management Collaborative UK has issued guidelines to help doctors spot those who keep quiet. Dr Laurence Dobbie, of King's College London, said: 'People taking these medicines are seeing GPs with lots of different problems. 'We want GPs to have the basic knowledge to prioritise patient safety and demystify side effects.' These can include vomiting and diarrhoea. But the report warns medics should also be mindful of rarer ones such as pancreatitis and bowel obstructions. Mounjaro is available on the NHS from this week for obese people with specific health issues.
