Pathology provider SYNLAB UK and Ireland has called in clinical and IT staff from its wider UK and international network as well as using new middleware to help boost the capacity of its Synnovis laboratories following the ransomware attack it experienced in early June.
Synnovis CEO Mark Dollar said almost all of the company’s IT systems were affected by the attack, including analytical equipment and the transmission of test results.
Synnovis, a pathology partnership between Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, King’s College Hospitals NHS Trust and SYNLAB, has reverted to paper and manual protocols which Mr Dollar said had significantly affected capacity and delivery timeframes.
The company is taking a phased approach to restoring its technical infrastructure, including using new middleware to help the reporting and transmission of results from laboratory information management systems (LIMS) at each site.
“Full restoration of systems will take some time however, and we are working closely with our NHS partners and suppliers to deliver each phase in a safe and secure manner,” Mr Dollar said.
“Every available resource is focused on delivering the interim solutions required to contain impact while continuing to deliver clinically safe services and rebuilding service capacity.
“This has included SYNLAB diverting clinical and IT colleagues from across its wider UK laboratory network, well as from 12 other countries within their global operations. NHS colleagues are also providing hands on support.”
Mr Dollar said analysis of data published online by the hackers claiming responsibility for the attack has been confirmed to be Synnovis data.
Mr Dollar said it appears to have been copied from an administrative drive that held corporate and business support activities.
However, the copied data may contain personal data such as names, NHS numbers and codes identifying the requested test.
Mr Dollar said the investigations into the attack continued, with a Synnovis IT taskforce and cyber specialists commissioned by the NHS working closely with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and NHS England’s (NHSE) cyber operations team.
