▼ Summary
– A patient’s death was officially linked to the 2024 ransomware attack on Synnovis, which disrupted NHS pathology services in London.
– The cyberattack caused significant delays in blood tests and diagnostics, leading to widespread harm, including 170 recorded cases of patient harm.
– King’s College Hospital confirmed the patient died due to delayed blood test results caused by the attack, with findings shared with the family.
– The attack by Russian group Qilin disrupted over 10,000 appointments, postponed 1,710 operations, and delayed 1,100 cancer treatments.
– NHS England introduced new cybersecurity measures, including mandatory multi-factor authentication and patching vulnerabilities, to prevent future incidents.
A patient’s death has been directly attributed to the aftermath of a major ransomware attack targeting Synnovis, a critical pathology services provider for NHS hospitals in London. The incident, which unfolded in mid-2024, severely disrupted diagnostic operations, causing dangerous delays in blood test results and compromising patient care across multiple facilities.
King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, one of the hardest-hit institutions, confirmed the fatality in a recent statement. The patient, whose identity remains confidential, passed away unexpectedly during the cyberattack’s peak. A thorough review of the case revealed that prolonged delays in receiving vital blood test results, directly linked to the system outage, played a significant role in the tragic outcome. Hospital officials have since met with the family to discuss the findings.
The attack, orchestrated by the Russian cybercriminal group Qilin on June 3, 2024, crippled pathology services for weeks. Over 10,000 outpatient appointments were disrupted, while 1,710 planned surgeries had to be postponed. Cancer treatments for 1,100 patients faced delays, and nearly 600 patient safety incidents were logged, including two classified as severe, meaning they resulted in permanent harm or life-threatening complications.
Synnovis CEO Mark Dollar expressed profound regret over the incident, acknowledging the attack’s role in the patient’s death. “Our deepest sympathies are with the family during this difficult time,” he stated. The breach exposed glaring vulnerabilities in healthcare cybersecurity, prompting urgent calls for systemic reforms.
In the wake of the crisis, NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care rolled out stricter cybersecurity protocols for suppliers. Key requirements now include mandatory multi-factor authentication (MFA), timely software updates, and secure, unalterable data backups. Additionally, the UK government introduced the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill in April 2025, aiming to fortify critical infrastructure, including healthcare networks, against future threats.
Cybersecurity experts continue to advocate for an independent audit of NHS defenses, emphasizing that patient lives depend on robust digital safeguards. The Synnovis attack serves as a sobering reminder of the real-world consequences when cybercriminals target essential services.
(Source: InfoSecurity)
