In a startling turn of events, GP surgeries and pharmacies across England have been severely impacted by a major global IT outage. This disruption, stemming from a defect in a software update from cyber security company CrowdStrike, has left healthcare providers struggling to perform basic functions like booking appointments and accessing patient prescriptions.

Widespread Disruption

NHS England confirmed that the technical issues are affecting “the majority of GP practices,” although there is currently no known impact on 999 or emergency services. The outage has left thousands of GPs unable to access the EMIS web system, which is critical for booking appointments, examining patient records, and supporting clinical decisions. This system is used by around 60 percent of practices, meaning approximately 3,700 GP practices may be affected.

Pharmacies are also feeling the strain, as they cannot access prescriptions, potentially delaying the delivery of medicines to patients. A spokesperson from the National Pharmacy Association urged patience from the public as services in community pharmacies are disrupted.

Hospitals Hit Hard

The impact is not limited to primary care. One hospital trust declared a critical incident after rescheduling cancer patients’ radiotherapy appointments due to the IT issues. The Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust reported that their radiotherapy treatments have been significantly affected, leading them to declare a critical incident. “We have contacted our patients who were due to have radiotherapy this morning to reschedule appointments while we work to fix these issues,” a spokesperson said.

Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust is also experiencing problems, particularly with their patient administration system, causing delays in registering new patients in A&E and maternity services. However, they have not seen an impact on scheduled appointments.

Emergency Measures

In response to the crisis, the NHS has turned to traditional methods, using paper patient records and handwritten prescriptions. An NHS spokesperson emphasized that blood donation appointments remain unaffected and that there is an ongoing urgent need for donors, especially those with O negative blood.

Despite the IT challenges, the NHS is maintaining critical services. “Patients should attend appointments unless told otherwise. Only contact your GP if it’s urgent, and otherwise please use 111 online or call 111,” the spokesperson advised.

Voices from the Ground

Healthcare providers across the country have taken to social media to communicate with patients. Wilmslow Health Centre, a GP practice outside Manchester, highlighted the breadth of the issue, stating, “All practices in the UK using the EMIS system are currently without access to their IT programmes. We anticipate this could last for many hours. Please bear with us during this challenging time.”

Similarly, Solihull Healthcare Partnership in the West Midlands and Pocklington Group Practice in the East Riding of Yorkshire have also reported significant disruptions. Pocklington Group Practice noted, “This may result in appointments needing to be cancelled and rearranged. Updates will follow when available.”

Conclusion

The global IT outage has cast a spotlight on the vulnerabilities of the healthcare system’s reliance on technology. While emergency measures are in place to mitigate the impact, the disruption underscores the need for robust contingency plans. As healthcare providers navigate this crisis, the emphasis remains on maintaining patient care and ensuring that essential services continue with as little disruption as possible.