PATIENTS in Knutsford and Wilmslow are being urged to attend their appointments as planned while a cyber-attack on the NHS is resolved.

East Cheshire NHS Trust has confirmed today, May 15, that it hasn’t cancelled any elective surgery or outpatient appointments.

A spokesman for East Cheshire NHS Trust said: “Like many other NHS organisations, East Cheshire NHS Trust was affected by Friday’s cyber-attack, with ransomware detected in a number of our systems.

“As soon as local issues were identified, IT systems were shut down to prevent the virus spreading further and business continuity plans were enacted to ensure the trust continued to provide safe care.

“Patients have not been directly affected and the trust has not cancelled any elective surgery our outpatient appointments.

“All patients should attend appointments this week as planned unless contacted by the trust and advised otherwise. Our IT providers continue to work resolve the issue.”

East Cheshire NHS Trust runs Macclesfield District General Hospital as its main site, as well as Knutsford Community Hospital and other outpatient services in Knutsford, Handforth and Wilmslow.

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Trust, which runs mental health, substance misuse, learning disability and community physical health services in the county, confirmed it had also been affected by the cyber-attack on Saturday.