IT outage at Auckland hospitals - Health NZ Te Whatu Ora responds

• IT systems outage affected Auckland public hospitals this morning, Health NZ Te Whatu Ora confirms.
• The Auckland City, Waitākere, North Shore and Middlemore hospitals were impacted.
• No evidence of any cyber security concerns, health boss Mark Shepherd says.

Public hospitals across Auckland were struck by an IT systems outage for several hours early this morning.

The outage affected some applications at hospitals across the city, including Auckland City, Waitākere, North Shore and Middlemore hospitals, Health NZ Te Whatu Ora northern region deputy chief executive Mark Shepherd said.

“This was due to a software malfunction. There is no evidence of any cyber security concerns.”

The outage took place between 2.30am and 6am, Shepherd said.

“Normal business continuity plans were implemented, with systems back up and running normally from 6am. Patients and staff all remained safe, and there is no ongoing risk to systems.

“We’d like to thank our staff for responding quickly to the outage and extend our thanks to our patients and whānau for their understanding.”

A person whose relative was at Middlemore Hospital when the outage occurred said staff told those waiting to be seen they would speak to each individually and take their vital readings.

They were also offered vouchers to be seen at an urgent care clinic in South Auckland, the person said.

Late last year it emerged Health New Zealand had spent $72 million on contractors and consultants for a single IT project as it prepared to sack more than 1000 IT employees.

The $72m spend was outlined in documents obtained under the Official Information Act, with the cost-cutting proposal aimed at saving $100m a year after Government orders to make savings ahead of a threatened $1.7 billion deficit by next July, RNZ reported.

Former Transport Minister Simeon Brown also took over the crucial Health portfolio after Prime Minister Christopher Luxon dumped incumbent Health Minister Shane Reti from the role last week.

Cherie Howie is an Auckland-based reporter who joined the Herald in 2011. She has been a journalist for more than 20 years and specialises in general news and features.

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