Mark Dollar, chief executive at Synnovis, has confirmed that a ransomware attack has disrupted all IT systems at the pathology service provider, leading to cancellation or redirection of patient activities.
Synnovis is a pathology partnership between Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, King’s College Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and SYNLAB, Europe’s largest provider of medical testing and diagnostics.
The attack came to light on 3 June 2024, when Professor Ian Abbs, chief executive at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, notified staff of a critical incident impacting service delivery, particularly affecting blood transfusions.
On 4 June 2024, Dollar confirmed that the ransomware attack had caused disruptions across all IT systems at Synnovis, affecting many pathology services. The immediate impact is felt by patients using NHS services at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS FT, and King’s College Hospitals NHS FT, as well as GP services in several London boroughs.
Dollar emphasized the seriousness of the situation, highlighting the impact on patient care and the ongoing efforts to assess and address the effects of the attack.
Additional announcements indicate a level three response and a prolonged timeline for service restoration. Both NHS England London region and SYNLAB Italia are also grappling with the consequences of cyber attacks.
