A new report claims that the hackers behind the HSE ransomware attack are threatening to release or sell Irish patients’ data if the $20 ransom is not paid.
Bloomberg News reports that the criminal gang has contacted the HSE to say data will begin to be released on the dark web from Monday.
Some data already appears to have been posted online, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly confirmed today.
The Government’s policy is to not pay any ransom demand.
The hack as been described as a major disaster for the health system, while the HSE said it will be weeks before the IT system is back up and running again.
Disruption to Hospital Services at Letterkenny University Hospital will continue this week, Saolta announced.
Service disruptions are as follows:
CANCELLATIONS
· All outpatient clinics are cancelled.
· All diagnostics including x-ray, CT scans, MRI appointments and cardiac investigations are cancelled.
· Endoscopy services are cancelled.
· All elective inpatient and day case procedures are cancelled; a small number of procedures may go ahead and in this event patients will be contacted directly.
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT
Patients can expect significant delays in the Emergency Department as existing IT systems are not in use and the manual workarounds in place are time-consuming.
Where possible patients should bring their existing patient number or hospital number with them when they come to the hospital or any letter that they have received from the hospital as this will contain information which will make it easier to find existing medical records.
We ask patients to contact their GP or GP Out Of Hours Service in the first instance if their health problem is not urgent.
GOING AHEAD
Maternity services and dialysis treatment will go ahead.
Patients should attend their chemotherapy appointments unless contacted and advised otherwise.
