Cyber attacks on NHS 'put lives at risk'

THE HEALTH Secretary must act urgently to protect the private records of millions of patients from being accessed in cyber attacks.

- By Lucy Johnston SOCIAL AFFAIRS EDITOR

This was the stark warning to Wes Streeting from former government cyber security adviser Andrew Jenkinson, who says the constant attacks on the NHS have left personal data "hanging by a thread".

The fellow of the Cyber Theory Institute added lives were at risk as the deluge of attacks crippled parts of the health service daily, delaying operations and wasting funds.

In a letter to the Health Secretary, Mr Jenkinson said: "The NHS and tens of millions of patients are totally and perpetually exposed to cyber crime and fraud."