All computer systems were shut down overnight.
Rotunda out patients under 36 weeks pregnant should avoid appointments today unless in an emergency, the hospital master has said.
Professor Fergal Malone has urged people with appointments scheduled for today to stay home after a HSE ransomware cyberattack, which meant all of their computer systems were shut down.
Prof Malone told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that only patients over 36 weeks pregnant and those with emergencies should attend the hospital, where a slower paper system will be used until the online system is back up and running.
At the time of writing, Holles Street hospital is continuing to see patients as normal.
There is a significant ransomware attack on the HSE IT systems. We have taken the precaution of shutting down all our our IT systems in order to protect them from this attack and to allow us fully assess the situation with our own security partners.
— HSE Ireland (@HSELive) May 14, 2021
“There is a significant ransomware attack on the HSE IT systems,” read a statement by the HSE. “We have taken the precaution of shutting down all our our IT systems in order to protect them from this attack and to allow us fully assess the situation with our own security partners.
“We apologise for inconvenience caused to patients and to the public and will give further information as it becomes available. Vaccinations not effected [sic] are going ahead as planned.”
HSE chief Paul Reid confirmed the attack this morning, stating that all national and local IT systems in Ireland had been affected by the breach.
He called the attack “serious” and “sophisticated”, and confirmed that the HSE is being aided by cyber security experts, Gardaí, and the Defence Forces. The Covid vaccine roll out has not been affected by the attack.
“Our first priority is to contain the issue,” Reid told RTÉ. “This is a major incident for us. As the morning progressed we’ll gain greater clarity on the impact of this.
“The vaccination programme continues, this is not impacted. So, do come forward for this.”
Reid added that patients should continue to attend appointments as normal, unless instructed otherwise.
