A COMMUNITY health service is operating normally after concerns it had been impacted by a cyber attack which has affected the NHS. 

IT systems at Provide were interrupted by the ransomeware on Friday.

Immediate action was taken by the trust and services continued to operate over the weekend. 

John Niland, Chief Executive for Provide said: “We have robust plans for incidents such as the NHS cyber-attack and over the weekend we were able to continue to deliver community health services to people in their homes and on our inpatient wards at Halstead Hospital, Braintree and Witham Community Hospital and St Peter’s Hospital in Maldon. 

"Some of our clinicians were using paper-based systems but our IT staff have now overcome most of the problems caused by the NHS cyber-attack.

“I expect our services to be operating as normal from Monday (15 May 2017) including our community clinics.

"Any updates will be posted to Provide’s Facebook page, Twitter account and websites. 

"Although it is business as usual I would ask patients to bear with us if there are any unexpected delays. 

“We are working closely with colleagues at local hospitals and my thanks to all those members of staff who are working tirelessly to minimise any disruption to patients.”

Updates will be posted to Provide’s Facebook page and website.