image source, Getty Images
- Author, Nick Edser
- Role, Business reporter
-
The global IT outage has caused disruption in the UK, including health and transport.
GPs have difficulty accessing their record systems which include online bookings. Pharmacy services such as access to prescriptions were also affected.
The outage led to long queues at UK airports and took some TV channels off the air.
Cybersecurity firm Crowdstrike said the global IT issues were caused by a content update flaw and not a security incident or cyber attack.
“The issue has been identified, isolated and a fix has been deployed,” said George Kurtz, CEO of Crowdstrike.
Pat McFadden, chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, said government teams were coordinating their response to the major outage through Cobra, the emergency response committee.
“Ministers are working with their sectors and relevant industries on this issue,” he wrote on X.
NHS systems have been breached
The NHS said it was aware of the global outage and problems with its EMIS system, which allows GPs to manage appointment bookings, carry out patient consultations and update, store and share patient records – including sending prescriptions to pharmacies.
“Patients should attend appointments unless otherwise advised. Only contact your GP if it is urgent and otherwise use 111 online or call 111,” an NHS spokesman said.
They added that there was no known impact on 999 or emergency services.
The National Pharmacy Association confirmed the issue was affecting community pharmacies, “including access to GP prescriptions and drug supplies”.
Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chair of the Royal College of GPs, said the outage was a “serious concern” and asked people to be patient as clinics worked to keep services running.
Dr Jess Harvey, a GP in Much Wenlock, Shropshire, told the BBC that her practice had access to a “really primitive version” of EMIS but could not access blood test results and canceled some routine appointments.
She said doctors were still able to issue prescriptions “the old way” with handwritten notes.
“We are working really hard as a team to try and get through this,” added Dr Harvey. “I’m sure it’s the same in GP practices across the country.”
Among the affected patients was Neha, from Ashford, Kent. She told the BBC that a blood test she had ordered a month ago had been canceled this morning.
She was told at the GP surgery that they were unable to access some of their computer systems and that they would be in contact again to re-order the blood test.
“I was waiting for this test and now I have to wait again,” said Neha.
Delays and cancellations at airports
The outage also affected travel infrastructure across the UK. Long queues were reported at airports. British Airways said some flights are “likely to experience disruption”.
Britain’s largest airport, Heathrow, said the outage was affecting “selected systems”.
“Flights are operational and we are putting contingency plans in place to minimize any impact on travel,” Heathrow said.
Among those caught up in the delay were members of a hen-flight bound for Dublin from East Midlands Airport.
Anna Hindmarsh told the BBC that she and five other people who were due to travel to her sister’s four-day celebration were left behind after being delayed when their luggage had to be checked in by hand.
“I’m really disappointed,” Ms Hindmarsh said, adding that she was now trying to rebook.
A group of American tourists due to travel home to Texas from Edinburgh told the PA news agency they were forced to pay more than £5,000 for new flights.
Some flights to the UK were also cancelled. Jemma Wheeler, 30, said her family of five were stranded at Palma de Mallorca Airport after IT problems caused delays in check-in.
“We thought it was a quick two-hour flight and we’d be back in a bit to enjoy the nice weather at home,” she told the BBC.
Those waiting for their flight are encouraged to monitor communications from their airlines and to keep important items in their carry-on bags if they are checking bags.
Train services are still operating, although the National Rail Inquiries website has warned of “widespread IT issues across the network”.
It said technical problems could potentially lead to “short-term train cancellations”.
“Additionally, other key systems are also affected, including real-time customer information platforms,” he added.
It said services operated by Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southern and Thameslink could experience changes and cancellations.
British TV channels Sky News and CBBC are now back on the air after being hit.
Additional reporting from Ian Casey, Dan Martin and Aleks Phillips