Life-saving surgery needed after cyber attack delay

A heart patient has been left fearing for his health after his lifesaving operation was cancelled due to a major cyber attack on London NHS hospitals.

- REBECCA THOMAS

Russell Ashley-Smith, 81, is waiting for complex open heart surgery at King’s College Hospital in Denmark Hill, south London, without which he may only have up to two years to live.

The Independent revealed more than 200 emergency procedures were cancelled due to the ransomware hack earlier this month.

Mr Ashley-Smith said: “I understand if I don’t [have the operation] it’s terminal. Doctors said you’ll live for one to two years with declining health and become less and less capable of doing things like walking.

“I would become more dependent on my wife, and more dependent on being taken somewhere by car if I wanted to go outside. I would be unable to make music – I play the cello and the piano – all the things I like doing and I don’t want to be a couch potato.

“I feel frustration because I play piano in church but I can’t tell people if I’m able to play this coming Sunday or the following Sunday because I don’t know when things will be restored.”