Cannes hospital hit by cyberattack

Hospital management had to postpone appointments and “non-urgent” procedures. A cyberattack hit the Simone-Veil Hospital in Cannes on the morning of April 16, 2024. Details surrounding the conditions and nature of the incident, and its potential source, are unknown as of now. However, the attack forced the hospital to postpone “scheduled non-urgent procedures, with no effect on success rates,” as well as appointments, “until things return to normal.” Other hospital care, including the ER, was not interrupted, but efficiency took a hit. Hospital management therefore advised patients not to head to the ER before dialing emergency numbers or attempting to see a GP. Hospital staff was kept informed, and is committed “to carrying out necessary investigations and containing the incident.” The hospital set up a crisis center “that is communicating with the PACA regional health authorities, the Alpes-Maritimes hospital trust and the president of the Simone-Veil Hospital board.” Moreover, the hospital sent a “pre-report” to the CNIL (French data protection authority). The FO santé trade union told France 3 Côte d’Azur (regional news station): “cyberattack attempts were made on hospitals in Nice, but firewalls managed to thwart the hackers.”