NHS Dumfries and Galloway has confirmed that children's mental health records have been published online after a cyber attack earlier this year. A ransomware group targeted the health board, gaining access to a large volume of patient data, which has now been released on the dark web.
The health board's chief executive, Julie White, described the hack as "unprecedented" and apologized to patients and staff. She stated that the number of people affected is still unknown but could be in the thousands. White condemned the data release as an "utterly abhorrent criminal act."
The published records include children's mental health information, which has raised concerns among parents and patients. The health board is working with national agencies, including the Scottish government, police, and National Cyber Security Centre, to assess the extent of the breach.
Patients and locals have expressed worry and frustration over the lack of communication from the health board. Rebecca Richardson, a concerned patient, said she had not heard from the health board and was worried about what information the hackers might have obtained.
Local MSP Colin Smyth described the release of data as a "worrying development" and urged the NHS to contact affected individuals and provide transparency about the breach.
A dedicated telephone helpline has been set up to assist the public, and the health board has advised people to be vigilant for attempts to access their personal data.
The Scottish Government has stated that the incident is contained to NHS Dumfries and Galloway and has offered support to the health board. The cyber attack and data breach are under ongoing police investigation.
This incident highlights the vulnerability of healthcare systems to cyber attacks and the need for robust security measures to protect patient data. The publication of children's mental health records is a particularly sensitive issue, and the health board must prioritize supporting affected families and restoring public trust.
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