Computer virus could cost West Mid dear

Feb 16 2010 By Jessica Thomas

West Mid could be out of pocket after a computer virus attack

A VIRUS which crashed West Middlesex Hospital computers has brought departments to a standstill and left the trust worrying how much it will cost them.

IT systems at the Twickenham Road, Isleworth, hospital were infected with computer virus "Conficker A" on Thursday (11) leading to staff being unable to book patients in for appointments, referrals, access email and other "operational issues".

A hospital spokesman said technicians are "currently isolating the service and cleaning the system" but patients are being urged to only contact the hospital if their case is urgent, until they "get back to normal".

Conficker is a computer worm which targets Microsoft Windows and since it was first detected in November 2008, it has infected more than seven million government, business and home computers in over 200 countries.

The Hospital is currently trying to estimate how much the outbreak may end up costing the hospital, but a figure in the millions is not unheard of in similar cases.

Manchester City Council's computer systems were infected with the same virus in February 2009 costing them £1.5 million worth of disruption.

A hospital spokesman said: "We have implemented our business continuity plans and are operating manual systems as part of our standard procedure. We do have a number of computers working in several priority areas such as A&E, ITU, theatres and some out-patient departments.

"We have contacted all out partner organisations and are doing everything we can to get back to normal."

West Mid are encouraging patients not to contact the hospital unless it is an emergency and their A&E department remains open.

They are asking people with non-urgent cases to instead contact their GP, visit their local pharmacy or use walk in centres such as The Heart of Hounslow and Teddington Memorial Hospital.