Margaret McCartney: The NHS needs big, firm IT pants

A massive spread of “ransomware” has infected computers around the world, including many in the NHS. Operations have been cancelled, many test results can’t be accessed, and investigations such as x rays have been made near impossible1—all as predicted in The BMJ last week.2

Essentially, hackers infect old computer operating systems, which are still used in much of the NHS. Many similar attacks have occurred before,3 if less well publicised, and many more are likely. Some US hospitals have actually paid ransoms amid great fear, in particular, about litigation resulting from theft of …