NHS issues urgent blood donation appeal after IT cyber attack leaves hospitals struggling to match patients

NHS Trusts are appealing for O blood-type donors after a cyber attack on partner Synnovis impacted blood transfusion services across major London hospitals. The attack, believed to be by Russian group Qilin, caused numerous procedures to be cancelled. NHS Blood and Transplant wants donors to book appointments at London’s 25 donor centres as hospitals struggle to match patients’ blood as quickly as before. Already low blood stocks are being affected further by recent bank holidays and the half-term break.