IT error deletes 11 years of maternity record viewing history in English hospitals

English hospitals have announced that they have successfully recovered patient care data following a recent data loss incident, but other types of information remain inaccessible. The recovery effort, carried out by the NHS Digital team, focused on restoring clinical records, appointment schedules and treatment histories that were critical for ongoing patient care. The data was retrieved from backup servers that were unaffected by the cyber‑attack that temporarily disrupted hospital IT systems across the country.

According to NHS officials, the attack targeted a range of hospital databases, but the backup infrastructure was designed to isolate patient care information from administrative and financial records. As a result, while doctors and nurses can now access medical histories and treatment plans, other data sets—such as payroll, procurement and internal communications—have not yet been restored. The NHS is working with cybersecurity specialists to secure the remaining systems and prevent future breaches.

The recovery of patient care data has been welcomed by health professionals who emphasize the importance of uninterrupted clinical services. However, the incomplete restoration of non‑clinical data underscores the broader impact of the incident on hospital operations. NHS Digital has pledged to provide regular updates as the broader data recovery process continues.