NHS Dumfries and Galloway said a ransomware group published more than 3 terabytes of data stolen during a cyberattack, including patient- and staff-identifiable information. The large-scale release occurred on 6 May 2024. The board said its primary GP patient-record system was not accessed and patient care continued without direct cancellations caused by the incident. The breach was nevertheless a serious loss of confidentiality, and the published material could be copied or shared.
What happened in the NHS Dumfries and Galloway cyberattack?
The health board said the focused attack began at the end of February 2024. On 15 March, it warned that patient- and staff-identifiable data might have been acquired. It reported that clinical data relating to a small number of patients was published in March. On 6 May, the attackers published more than 3 terabytes of data, according to the board’s incident chronology. The board said the criminals had threatened to release data unless unspecified demands were met.
The reported volume is the amount of data published, not a count of patients or staff affected. The reviewed official sources do not give a definitive total of affected people or establish that every individual has been identified and notified.
What information was taken—and what was not?
The board said attackers did not access the primary patient-record system used by GPs, which it described as holding a person’s entire medical history in one location. Instead, the stolen material generally consisted of millions of separate files in different directories. The board identified examples including consultant-to-patient and consultant-to-consultant letters, test results, and x-rays. Because records were dispersed, locating identifiable people and assembling all their relevant information was difficult. The board said it prioritised high-risk data and vulnerable groups.
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That distinction does not mean no health information was involved: the board reported that patient-identifiable and clinical information was accessed and some clinical data was published. At the Scottish Parliament on 7 May 2024, Cabinet Secretary Neil Gray said agencies were assessing the breach; the parliamentary exchange noted that released files included children’s health information and that identifying affected individuals would take time.
Some other organisations’ information was also held on the board’s servers. National Records of Scotland confirmed that its data was accessed and published. NRS said it runs an administrative NHS service that transfers records when people move between health-board areas, across UK borders, or overseas. It identified a small number of cases in which sensitive information was temporarily held on the network, contacted those individuals, and informed the Information Commissioner. NRS’s 22 May 2024 statement describes its response.
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Was patient care disrupted?
The incident involved a serious confidentiality breach, but the board said it did not cause direct disruption to appointments or operations. It reported that data was duplicated and extracted, but no data was altered or deleted, no malware was introduced, and no system-locking software was deployed. The board said services continued normally and no appointments or operations had to be cancelled or rescheduled as a direct consequence. Its patient FAQ advises people to assume appointments, tests, referrals, scheduled treatments, and consultations will go ahead unless they are specifically told otherwise.
What should patients and staff do?
Keep appointments unless the NHS tells you otherwise
Attend planned appointments and treatments as usual unless the relevant service contacts you with a change. The board’s guidance covers appointments, tests, referrals, scheduled treatments, and consultations.
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Verify unexpected messages independently
Stolen information could be used to make a fraudulent approach more convincing. If an unexpected email or other communication claims to come from the NHS, contact the organisation or department directly using contact details from its official website. Do not use a phone number, email address, or link supplied in the suspicious message. NHS Dumfries and Galloway says it will never ask people for passwords or payment details.
Do not access or share leaked files
Do not search for, download, forward, or repost the stolen material. Police Scotland warned: “Members of the public should not attempt to access or share any leaked data as you may be committing an offence under the Data Protection Act.” The warning is in its statement on the attack.
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Report suspicious approaches
The board asks people to keep details of suspicious approaches claiming to possess NHS or personal data and report incident-related approaches to Police Scotland by calling 101. Preserve relevant message details, but do not open or circulate leaked files.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How did the board respond, and what remains unknown?
The board said it worked with Police Scotland, the National Cyber Security Centre, the National Crime Agency, Scottish Government, NHSScotland Cyber Centre of Excellence, and Scottish Cyber Coordination Centre. Its reported security measures included stronger server protection, updated policies, mandatory staff password resets and multifactor authentication, external penetration testing, and updated mandatory annual information-governance and security training.
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Audit Scotland’s 2023/24 annual audit report records ongoing liaison with law-enforcement agencies, the Information Commissioner’s Office, and the NHS Central Legal Office. It also records that a leaflet was issued to households across Dumfries and Galloway in the week beginning 17 June 2024, with additional targeted communications for vulnerable patient groups, and notes that the board’s financial systems used to produce its accounts were not compromised.
The board has not publicly detailed how the attackers entered its systems, saying the information is being withheld because Police Scotland treats it as specialist knowledge in a live investigation. The board FAQ said the Police Scotland investigation was ongoing. The official materials reviewed do not establish a final law-enforcement attribution, a concluded case outcome, or a definitive number of people affected. They do not name a confirmed ransomware gang, so the incident is best described as an attack by a ransomware group, as the board did.
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