The UK is facing cyber attacks on a daily basis, including attempts to breach the NHS, Prime Minister Andy Burnham has warned, as hospitals prepare for mounting pressure over the winter months.
Speaking to LBC during a visit to Watford General Hospital, Burnham described cyber attacks as a โgrowing concernโ and said the government was working to protect sensitive information across public services.
โWe are deterring cyber attacks on a daily basis, not just in the NHS, but, you know, more broadly,โ he said. โWe have strong defensive systems across the country, but it’s a growing concern.โ
He added that ministers were keeping a close watch on the threat and would continue working to safeguard peopleโs data.
Burnham was visiting the hospital to announce a ยฃ40mn funding boost for GPs this winter, aimed at helping surgeries identify vulnerable patients and provide them with additional care before their conditions deteriorate.
The warning comes as recent cyber attacks affecting the UK and other European countries threaten to add further strain to public services already preparing for a difficult winter.
The NHS also faces the prospect of industrial action by doctors. Consultants have voted to stage a 48-hour strike at the end of November amid an ongoing dispute over pay.
Burnham said the timing was particularly unwelcome, warning that the walkout would come during a challenging period for the health service.
He insisted there was no additional money available to settle the dispute, saying the government had already allocated what it could for the NHS in the Budget.
โI’m not saying the thing that politicians often say about there being no money, but it’s just a fact,โ he said.
The Prime Minister urged doctors to return to negotiations before proceeding with industrial action, saying he was willing to listen to their concerns. He added that Health Secretary had also offered to reopen discussions.
โLet’s have the conversation before we jump to industrial action,โ he said.
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