Nurses union questions safety as ransomware hits Health Sciences Centre systems

The Nurses Union in Manitoba has expressed concerns over security risks at the province’s largest hospital, the Health Sciences Centre, following a ransomware attack that has impacted some maintenance systems. Darlene Jackson, the president of the Manitoba Nurses Union, is troubled by the fact that the breach is affecting door access at the hospital, despite the union declaring it too dangerous to work at last year due to safety issues.

Shared Health, the body that manages healthcare in the province, announced on Monday that it is dealing with an attack affecting certain facility maintenance systems, including heating, ventilation and cooling systems, and door access. However, they have confirmed that patient care and clinical operations remain unaffected and fully operational.

Jackson is currently unaware of which specific doors have been impacted but has heard that security guards have been sent to man the entrances. Shared Health has not disclosed the time of the breach or if the hackers have made any demands. According to Anya Willis, a communications specialist with Shared Health, clinical services are continuing uninterrupted, and there is no indication that patients have been affected.

The hospital is conducting a thorough review of the affected systems. The province has been notified, and Shared Health is working with third-party experts to resolve the incident. Jackson informed union staff of the attack late on Monday afternoon, expressing concern that if the breach allows doors to be unlocked, it would be a significant issue.

The Manitoba Auditor General had previously called for better cybersecurity at Shared Health in a 2024 report, citing the need for annual testing and additional training for the cybersecurity incident response team.