Global IT issue affecting NHS services including GP practices and pharmacies in Lancashire and South Cumbria

19 July 2024 - 16:19 update

If you need mental health support or are in crisis, please continue to ring our Crisis Team on 0800 953 0110. Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust phone lines are unaffected and clinicians are here 24/7 to help you.

16:15 update

An NHS spokesperson said: “The NHS is aware of a global IT outage and an issue with EMIS, an appointment and patient record system, which is causing disruption in the majority of GP practices.  

“The NHS has long standing measures in place to manage the disruption, including using paper patient records and handwritten prescriptions, and the usual phone systems to contact your GP.

“There is currently no known impact on 999 so people should use these services as they usually would in emergency situations. 

“There are also some issues with administrative systems in hospitals that mean staff are having to work manually from paper to manage certain tasks but in the majority of hospitals, care is continuing as normal.

“Patients should attend appointments unless told otherwise. You can contact your GP on the phone if it’s urgent, and otherwise please use your local pharmacy, NHS 111 online or call 111 for urgent health advice as normal".

1:28pm update

Hospital trusts in Lancashire and South Cumbria also ask people to continue to attend hospital appointments unless they are contacted and told otherwise.

Urgent and emergency care services remain open and those who need urgent medical care should call 999 or attend A&E, especially in emergency and life-threatening cases when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk.

Trusts have plans in place and are prioritising resources to protect emergency treatment, critical care, neonatal care, and trauma.

The NHS values the public’s support during this period and urges people, if they use NHS services, to use them appropriately during these times of exceptional pressure. 

10:53am update

An NHS England spokesperson said: “The NHS is aware of a global IT outage and an issue with EMIS, an appointment and patient record system, which is causing disruption in the majority of GP practices.

“The NHS has long standing measures in place to manage the disruption, including using paper patient records and handwritten prescriptions, and the usual phone systems to contact your GP.

“There is currently no known impact on 999 or emergency services, so people should use these services as they usually would.

“Patients should attend appointments unless told otherwise. Only contact your GP if it’s urgent, and otherwise please use 111 online or call 111″.

10:00am update

NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board is aware of a global IT issue which is affecting some primary care services in the region.

It may be necessary for GP practices to rearrange appointments as they manage this issue.  If you have an appointment booked you should attend as planned unless you are advised otherwise.

Work is ongoing to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. It is anticipated that the issue will lead to an increased demand on other services such as NHS111 and urgent treatment centres.

Those who need urgent medical care should call 999 or attend A&E, especially in emergency and life-threatening cases when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk. Please use NHS 111 online for all non-emergency healthcare needs.

More information about when to call 999 and when to go to A&E is available via the national NHS website.

Further updates will be provided on the ICB website, Facebook and X pages as soon as they are available.