A major IT system failure has plunged hospitals in Gloucestershire into chaos, forcing medical staff to abandon digital records and revert to paper-based methods. The ongoing technical meltdown has severely disrupted patient care across multiple NHS sites, including Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and Cheltenham General Hospital.
Critical Systems Down
The breakdown affected vital digital systems used for patient records, test results and appointment scheduling. Hospital staff described scenes of confusion as they struggled to maintain services without their usual technological support.
Emergency Measures Implemented
NHS managers have activated emergency protocols, including:
- Manual record-keeping using paper charts
- Prioritisation of urgent cases
- Increased administrative staffing
- Extended working hours for IT support teams
A hospital spokesperson confirmed the issues began early Tuesday morning and have persisted throughout the day, with IT specialists working around the clock to restore services.
Patient Impact
The system failure has caused:
- Delays in test results
- Postponed non-urgent appointments
- Longer waiting times in A&E
- Increased stress for medical staff
Local health officials have apologised for the disruption but stress that emergency care remains available for those in critical need.
Ongoing Investigation
An NHS England spokesperson stated: "We're aware of the technical issues affecting Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and are supporting local teams to resolve the situation as quickly as possible."
The cause of the failure remains under investigation, with early reports suggesting a possible server malfunction rather than any external cyber attack.
