Cyberattack Claims Patient’s Life

In June 2024, the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) faced a significant cyberattack that disrupted services across several London hospitals. The attack targeted Synnovis, a pathology services provider, leading to delays in medical test results and, tragically, the death of a patient at King’s College Hospital. This incident highlights the severe consequences of cyber threats on healthcare systems.

The Attack and Its Impact

The cyberattack, attributed to the Russian-speaking Qilin ransomware group, infiltrated Synnovis’ systems, encrypting critical data and demanding a $50 million ransom. Synnovis refused to comply, resulting in the release of sensitive patient data on the dark web. The breach affected over 900,000 patients, exposing personal information such as names, dates of birth, and NHS numbers. The attack led to the cancellation of over 10,000 appointments and procedures at affected NHS trusts, including King’s College Hospital and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.

Achieve data resilience with TrueNAS designed for security, high availability, and expert support.

Patient Death Linked to Cyberattack

A thorough investigation into the unexpected death of a patient during the cyberattack revealed that delays in blood test results were a contributing factor. The King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust confirmed that the cyberattack impacted pathology services, leading to prolonged wait times for critical test results. The patient’s family has been informed, and the findings have been shared with them. Synnovis CEO Mark Dollar expressed deep sorrow over the incident, stating, “We are deeply saddened to hear that last year’s criminal cyberattack has been identified as one of the contributing factors that led to this patient’s death. Our hearts go out to the family involved.”

Broader Implications for Healthcare Cybersecurity

This incident underscores the increasing vulnerability of healthcare systems to cyber threats. Medical service providers are frequent targets for ransomware attacks due to the critical nature of their operations and the sensitivity of the data they handle. The attack on Synnovis resulted in over £32 million ($43 million) in damages and disrupted operations at several major London hospitals. Similar attacks in the past have been linked to fatalities in Alabama in 2019 and Germany in 2020, highlighting the global nature of this threat.

The Need for Enhanced Cybersecurity Measures

The tragic death linked to the Synnovis cyberattack serves as a stark reminder of the critical need for robust cybersecurity measures in healthcare. Experts emphasize the importance of implementing comprehensive security protocols, regular system updates, and staff training to mitigate the risks associated with cyber threats. Dr. Saif Abed, a cybersecurity expert, suggested that other deaths may have gone unreported due to insufficient investigations, calling for an independent inquiry into NHS digital security. He stated, “This tragic death is the tip of the iceberg. From my experience analyzing healthcare cyberattacks in the UK and globally, it is a near certainty that there have … .”

Conclusion

The cyberattack on Synnovis and its tragic consequences highlight the urgent need for healthcare organizations to prioritize cybersecurity. As healthcare systems become increasingly digital, the risks associated with cyber threats grow exponentially. It is imperative for healthcare providers to invest in robust cybersecurity measures to protect patient data and, ultimately, patient lives.

References

• UK health officials say patient’s death partially down to cyberattack. Reuters. June 26, 2025. (reuters.com)

• NHS cyber attack led to patient death. Financial Times. June 25, 2025. (ft.com)

• Patient Death Linked to Ransomware Attack on Pathology Services Provider. HIPAA Journal. June 27, 2025. (hipaajournal.com)

• Patient death linked to cyber attack on NHS pathology provider. Digital Health. June 25, 2025. (digitalhealth.net)

• Patient death at London hospital linked to cyber attack on NHS. The Independent. June 25, 2025. (independent.co.uk)