DUBLIN: The HSE has revealed that sensitive data from at least 520 patients was leaked online as a result of the latest cyber-attack. HSE acknowledged that the medical and personal information of these patients had been shared online.
The Financial Times had previously reported seeing screenshots and files proving data leaks. “Recently a news publication wrote a story saying they had seen HSE data that had been illegally accessed. We informed the publication of the court order we obtained in relation to this matter last week and asked them to supply it to us, and they agreed,” the HSE said in a statement.
The media outlet then presented the details of the leak, which included HSE details relating to 520 patients as well as some corporate documents. The evidence they presented was examined by the HSE, and Health Minister Stephen Donnelly confirmed that the data leak was genuine.
The data includes sensitive patient data, minutes of meetings and correspondence with patients. This is the first confirmation of a data leak since the attack. The HSE also said that it had begun the process of notifying concerned patients about this.
The HSE shut down its IT system two weeks ago following a significant ransomware attack. Various health services have also been disrupted across the country. The attack had no impact on the vaccination program, but it did have an impact on the official reporting of vaccination numbers.
The HSE said An Garda Síochána is continuing its investigation into the hacking and is working with them.
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