Since this Tuesday morning, April 16, a cyberattack has been underway at the Simone Veil Hospital Center in Cannes. On this second day, France 3 Côte d’Azur summarizes the situation of what is the first attack of this type for the establishment.
Since Tuesday morning, the Cannes hospital in the Alpes-Maritimes has been the target of a cyberattack.
A third of the surgical activity has been deprogrammed and, in consultation, the majority of chronic patients have been supported. Update on the situation this Wednesday evening.
An activated crisis unit
From the start of the crisis, the management of the health establishment made the decision to activate a crisis unit in conjunction with the PACA Regional Health Agency. General cybercontainment was also one of the first decisions of this unit. A radical decision was taken very quickly in all sectors.
All computer access was consequently cut off. Telephony continues to work.
The cyberattack is currently being analyzed in conjunction with expert partners (ANSSI, Cert Santé, Orange CyberDéfense, GHT06).
No ransom or data theft
Yves Servant, director of the Cannes hospital clarified to France 3 Côte d’Azur that there is “no ransom demand or data theft identified at this stage. Investigations remain ongoing, it is a malicious act.”
Since Monday morning, hospital professionals have been applying so-called degraded procedures, notably using paper kits. As a result, these procedures being more time-consuming, examination rendering times are extended.
We had to go back to paper prescriptions. Thanks to strong medical and paramedical mobilization, we were able to care for the most urgent patients. And above all avoid losing opportunities for them. 30% of the block’s activity has been deprogrammed.
Dr Christophe Gard president of the establishment’s medical committee
The activity partly assured
The Simone Veil hospital center has postponed the non-urgent scheduled activity, “not leading to loss of luck” in the words of management. A third of the operating activity has been deprogrammed and most chronic patients have been supported in consultation.
Everything is done to guarantee the continuation of care in complete safety in all fields of activity: emergencies, medicine, surgery, obstetrics, geriatrics, pediatrics, psychiatry, home hospitalization, rehabilitation.
Emergency activity remains active in conjunction with Samu.
Over these two days, approximately a third of non-urgent operating room schedules were canceled by medical decision. The operating program will be assured tomorrow Thursday at 90%
Several non-urgent consultations have been canceled. Certain consultations requiring little in terms of IT and concerning known chronic patients were able to be maintained.
To avoid emergency room congestion
As of yesterday Tuesday, people who could come to the emergency room were advised to:
- Consult your doctor. The attending physician gives medical advice and directs you to an emergency department if he or she considers it necessary.
- Find a place for care and consultations without an appointment. To avoid overloading the emergency services, treatment centers can welcome you during the week, on weekends, during the day or in the evening. Check out the map below:
The organization of care is monitored at the departmental level thanks to the Territorial Hospital Group. The activity was organized with the sites of Nice, Grasse, Antibes and the private sector.
This is the 1st attack
The hospital center had never been the victim of a cyberattack of this type. “We have been prepared since the last crises, particularly Covid, for these situations. We regularly do exercises”, specifies Doctor Gard. Cyber risk is one of the priority risks identified in the establishment’s risk map. Exercises have been held over the past few months, allowing for strong responsiveness to the event.
The establishment works in conjunction with the Regional Health Agency and the Alpes-Maritimes Territory Hospital Group to regulate patients in the territory according to medical profiles and hospitalization capacities within the Cannes Simone Veil hospital center and other establishments.
When will we return to normal?
The establishment prioritizes the IT restart of software directly linked to the patient care process (computerized patient file and examination results).
The return to normal will depend on technical investigations and the necessary catch-up. Other hospitals that were the subject of a cyberattack experienced a fairly long return to normal.
