Diagnostic imaging appointments curtailed due to hack

The HSE was hit on Friday by a ransomware attack.

Outpatient appointments in diagnostic imaging will not go ahead today at Cavan General Hospital as the HSE continues to struggled to find a way to get its systems back on track following a significant Ransomware cyber attack last week.

“Appointments for these patients will be rescheduled,” the HSE website informs.

Emergency and essential Inpatient, day care, and outpatient services meanwhile are “currently operating as normal”.

Most services will continue as scheduled today, Monday, May 17.

“If you have an appointment on Monday 17 or Tuesday 18 May that needs to be rescheduled, the hospital will contact you directly. You do not need to contact your hospital,” adds the HSE web update.

The HSE was hit on Friday by a ransomware attack.

It was discovered over the weekend that the Department of Health has also shut down its systems after finding a similar digital note to that left on the HSE's systems.

Private hospitals will be used this week to access oncology services and some diagnostics.

Separately, the HSE has said it has received advice on whether to open up the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) and AstraZeneca vaccines to the under 50s, and an announcement is expected to be made later this week on when people in their 40s can register for a Covid-19 jab.