Cyber attack: Havering’s NHS trust urges patients to only attend A&E in real emergencies

In the wake of Friday’s cyber attack on the NHS, Havering’s health trust is urging patients to only visit A&E in real emergencies.

The majority of Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust (BHRUT) services have not been affected by the ransomware strike, however there could be delays with blood tests, scanning, transport booking and the switchboard.

A small number of appointments have been cancelled however the vast majority are still going ahead.

BHRUT is also helping neighbouring hospitals which have been badly hit by the hack.

Queen’s Hospital, in Romford, and King George Hospital, in Goodmayes, have been transferred patients from Barts Health, one of the trusts caught by the cyber attack.

Whipps Cross in Leytonstone, run by Barts, was forced to cancel a large number of appointments on Friday and today.

A BHRUT spokesman explained: “People should only attend our emergency departments if it is a real emergency.

“We are very busy picking up extra patients as a result of the cyber attack.”

In total a fifth of NHS trusts across the country were hit by the ransomware attack, which affected organisations worldwide.