10,000+
appointments cancelled
What the research found
A 2024 ransomware attack on the NHS pathology provider Synnovis cancelled more than 10,000 outpatient appointments and 1,700 operations, triggered an O-negative blood shortage across London, and exposed the records of 90,000+ patients. Full recovery took months.
Why it matters for providers
A preview of what happens when critical care depends on fragile digital infrastructure — the foundation AI is now being layered onto.
Original source
NHS England
Peer-reviewed or official source — the most reliable tier.