GE Healthcare insists anaesthesia machines used by NHS pose ‘no direct patient risk’

GE Healthcare has stated that its anaesthetic machines do not pose a risk to patients, after cybersecurity firm CyberMDX highlighted a vulnerability that could allow hackers to alter the amount of anaesthetic delivered and silence alarms. However, GE Healthcare also recommends that anaesthesia devices should not be connected to a network. The Royal College of Anaesthetists has also reassured patients, stating that anaesthetists will constantly monitor them and rectify any device failures. The NHS, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and the Association of Anaesthetists are working together to investigate the issue.