The Aftermath of a U.K. Cyberattack: Blood Shortages and Delayed Operations

Since the cyberattack, some N.H.S. medical practitioners at affected hospitals have resorted to using pen and paper to record test results, with limited access to computerized blood test records. Recording results by hand can lead to higher rates of mistakes and can reduce capacity for blood tests, resulting in reduced capacity for emergency operations, said Jamie MacColl, a research fellow focused on cybersecurity at the Royal United Services Institute, a British think tank. “The whole thing doesn’t break down, but it is under significant strain,” Mr. MacColl said. There have been far fewer successful ransomware attacks on the N.H.S., which does not pay ransoms, than on U.S. health care providers, which are more susceptible to being extorted, he said.