South East ambulance trust’s IT services back online after ‘significant issue’

South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust has confirmed its IT systems are “functioning fully” after suffering from a “significant” issue which led to a critical incident being declared. 

The ambulance trust confirmed at 9am on 17 November that it had experienced “a significant IT issue overnight” and had declared a criticial incident with the public asked to consider alternatives before calling 999, including NHS 111 online.

Then at around 11pm, an update from the trust confirmed its IT systems were now “functioning fully”.

A trust spokesperson added: “As a result, we have stood down the Critical Incident declared earlier today.

“We’d like to extend a massive thank you to our staff and volunteers for their outstanding work today, as well as to our fellow ambulance trusts and our hospital and system partners for their support.

“We’d also like to thank our patients and the wider public for their patience and understanding.

“Moving forwards, we will ensure that any learning arising from this incident is acted upon.”

We are pleased to confirm that all of our IT systems are now functioning fully.

As a result, we have stood down the Critical Incident declared earlier today. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/HJBIydFvxR

— South East Coast Ambulance (@SECAmbulance) November 17, 2021

The details surrounding the “significant IT issue” were not revealed.

The issues across South East Coast Ambulance Service follows an incident across the Republic of Ireland in May 2021 where health IT services had to be switched off following a “significant ransomware attack”.