Could the NHS cyber attack have been stopped? Government demands answers as system is hacked

The NHS was attacked by cyber criminals on Friday.

The Government and NHS bosses are facing growing questions over why hospitals across the country were crippled by a global cyber attack amid suggestions preventative measures could have been taken "months ago".

The health service faces a weekend of chaos after the unprecedented attack forced hospitals to cancel and delay treatment for patients.

Yorkshire patients warned 'only to attend A&E if emergency' after hospital IT systems targeted by suspected cyber attack Yorkshire NHS hospital trust affected after suspected cyber attack targets IT systems across country Cyber security experts investigating after malware attack on Yorkshire NHS organisations

It is feared computers in A&E wards, GP's surgeries and other vital services across the NHS were infected with a virus based on hacking tools developed by US cyber warfare agents.

At least 30 health service organisations in England and Scotland were infiltrated by the malicious software, while many others shut down servers as a precautionary measure, bringing added disruption.

Doctors reported seeing computers go down "one by one" as the "ransomware" took hold on Friday, locking machines and demanding money to release the data.

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) said teams were "working round the clock" in response to the attack as it was reported up to 99 countries, including the US and Russia, were hit.

Prime Minister Theresa May said the Government is not aware of any evidence patient records had been compromised.

Patients in Yorkshire were advised to only attend A&E if they had an emergency.

"This is not targeted at the NHS, it's an international attack and a number of countries and organisations have been affected," she added.