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Apology as IT problems affect patients in Glasgow health board area | Apology as IT problems affect patients in Glasgow health board area |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Scotland's largest health board has made an "unreserved apology" over an IT problem which is continuing to affect services for a second day. | Scotland's largest health board has made an "unreserved apology" over an IT problem which is continuing to affect services for a second day. |
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said it had only restored "a basic level of IT service to enable some of the clinical services affected to resume normally". | NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said it had only restored "a basic level of IT service to enable some of the clinical services affected to resume normally". |
It confirmed that over the past 36 hours, some 564 patients have had their treatment or appointments postponed. | It confirmed that over the past 36 hours, some 564 patients have had their treatment or appointments postponed. |
The problem has affected up to 10 hospitals across the health board area. | |
The issue, which arose after a server crash and a subsequent failure in the back-up system, left clinicians unable to access services such as patient records. | |
It resulted in outpatient appointments, inpatient procedures, day surgery cases and chemotherapy appointments being postponed. | |
Maternity and emergency services have been maintained throughout. | |
It is hoped the problems will be resolved by Wednesday evening. | |
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (GGC) chief executive Robert Calderwood said: "I apologise unreservedly for the inconvenience this has caused to our patients who have had their procedures postponed, and I will ensure that everything possible is done to get their treatment carried out at the earliest possible opportunity. | NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (GGC) chief executive Robert Calderwood said: "I apologise unreservedly for the inconvenience this has caused to our patients who have had their procedures postponed, and I will ensure that everything possible is done to get their treatment carried out at the earliest possible opportunity. |
"I can assure everyone that our senior management team, IT specialists and clinical leads have been working around the clock and will continue to do so until this issue is resolved." | "I can assure everyone that our senior management team, IT specialists and clinical leads have been working around the clock and will continue to do so until this issue is resolved." |
Mr Calderwood said that the "vast majority" of hospital services had been maintained and about 7,400 planned procedures and appointments had gone ahead during the IT systems crash. | Mr Calderwood said that the "vast majority" of hospital services had been maintained and about 7,400 planned procedures and appointments had gone ahead during the IT systems crash. |
He said: "Those which have had to be postponed were as a result of clinical decisions taken because the treatment or consultation was reliant on detailed imaging and other patient information which was unavailable as a result of the network issue. | He said: "Those which have had to be postponed were as a result of clinical decisions taken because the treatment or consultation was reliant on detailed imaging and other patient information which was unavailable as a result of the network issue. |
"Arrangements have also been made to maintain the vast majority of chemotherapy sessions today (Wednesday), although a small number of sessions have regrettably been postponed. | "Arrangements have also been made to maintain the vast majority of chemotherapy sessions today (Wednesday), although a small number of sessions have regrettably been postponed. |
"The unprecedented IT issue relates to our network and the way staff can connect to some of our clinical and administrative systems." | "The unprecedented IT issue relates to our network and the way staff can connect to some of our clinical and administrative systems." |
NHS GGC said further work would be carried out during Wednesday afternoon to ensure that the partial fixes put in place were "sustainable" and that "full IT functionality is restored". | NHS GGC said further work would be carried out during Wednesday afternoon to ensure that the partial fixes put in place were "sustainable" and that "full IT functionality is restored". |
The health board confirmed that by late morning on Wednesday, it had postponed some 459 outpatient appointments. | The health board confirmed that by late morning on Wednesday, it had postponed some 459 outpatient appointments. |
It said that 14 planned inpatient procedures were also postponed, along with 43 day cases and 48 chemotherapy patient treatments. | It said that 14 planned inpatient procedures were also postponed, along with 43 day cases and 48 chemotherapy patient treatments. |
NHS GGC said earlier that emergency operations and community services had not been compromised by the ongoing problem. | NHS GGC said earlier that emergency operations and community services had not been compromised by the ongoing problem. |
The Scottish government confirmed it had been informed about the problem. | The Scottish government confirmed it had been informed about the problem. |
Twitter anger | Twitter anger |
A spokesman said: "We have been made aware of an issue related to IT at NHS Greater Glasgow that has resulted in a number of postponements. | A spokesman said: "We have been made aware of an issue related to IT at NHS Greater Glasgow that has resulted in a number of postponements. |
"We have been assured that staff are working hard to return services to normal and to reschedule appointments at the earliest opportunity." | "We have been assured that staff are working hard to return services to normal and to reschedule appointments at the earliest opportunity." |
Answering questions on the problem in parliament, Scottish Health Secretary Alex Neil said the two software server companies - Microsoft and Charteris - were working to determine the cause of the problem. | |
He said no data appeared to have been lost, adding: "My officials will work closely with the board to establish the root cause of this incident and to share the lessons with other NHS boards." | |
Mr Neil said the NHS was contacting patients to ensure their treatments and appointments were rescheduled as soon as possible. | |
Reacting on Twitter, John Greer, from Glasgow, said he had waited six months for an appointment on Tuesday, only for it to be cancelled. | Reacting on Twitter, John Greer, from Glasgow, said he had waited six months for an appointment on Tuesday, only for it to be cancelled. |
He added: "The place was in utter chaos can't believe there is no back-up." | He added: "The place was in utter chaos can't believe there is no back-up." |
However, Annemarie Monaghan, from Bearsden, said: "Hospital appointment at 9am - despite no IT system was seen on time, good consultation, future treatment organised. No problem. Well done NHS." | However, Annemarie Monaghan, from Bearsden, said: "Hospital appointment at 9am - despite no IT system was seen on time, good consultation, future treatment organised. No problem. Well done NHS." |