Waikato DHB cyber attack: Radiation therapy resumes for cancer patients

Waikato DHB chief executive Kevin Snee. Photo / Duncan Brown

Some radiation therapy cancer patients are now having their treatment at Waikato DHB after the service resumed today.

Last month, the Waikato DHB was crippled when a cyber attack brought down all of its systems.

The DHB has several hundred servers, many major network sites and many thousands of workstations, numerous mobile devices and specialist medical equipment.

The DHB was working closely with international specialist services to systematically test and secure all devices and systems before each one was reinstated.

Chief executive Kevin Snee said 22 people were scheduled to have their radiation therapy treatment today, the first time the service has been offered since the attack and an "important milestone".

The DHB had four machines and two were currently back in operation as some other patients were continuing to get care in Tauranga and Wellington hospitals.

"Being able to again provide this important service for our community here in Waikato is a great reward for all the hard work of our IT, support and clinical teams," he said.

"We have four machines and will begin with two this week while we keep a number of our staff in Tauranga and Wellington to ensure continuity of care for those patients who were sent to those areas.

"Once our staff and patients are repatriated to Hamilton, which is expected over the next two weeks, we'll be able to have all four up and running."

Work was continuing to restore all systems across the DHB with a number of key services including the inpatient management system and diagnostic services across the radiology and laboratory services expected to be online this week.