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Health Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 July 2021

Thursday, 1 July 2021

Questions (484)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

484. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which actions are in hand to minimise the recent cyber-attack on the most sensitive of services provided by the HSE including oncology, cardiovascular, endoscopy, paediatric, neurology and emergency mental health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29231/21]

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Written answers

While much progress has been made, health care services continue to be impacted by the cyber-attack. Hospitals and community services nationwide are seeing varied impacts, but all teams are responding with contingency arrangements, including redeploying staff, rescheduling some procedures and appointments, and adjusting processes as needed.

It is important to note that essential services are continuing, however, systems are not operating as normal and patients are experiencing delays in some cases. It is likely that it will be at least several more weeks before the system is operating normally.

As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.

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