{
  "id": 19805344,
  "title": "Microsoft outage disrupts UK health services, delays patient referrals",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/13/microsoft-outage-disrupts-uk-health-services-delays-patient-referrals",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-11-13T12:38:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/microsoft-outage-disrupts-uk-health-services-delays-patient-referrals/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A recent Microsoft global product issue has significantly impacted Britain's National Health Service (NHS), according to a union leader. The emergency calls received by NHS staff were unable to refer patient details in the usual manner, resulting in a massive backlog and potential chaos, stated Rachel Harrison, the public services head at the GMB union. However, she clarified that emergency and life-threatening call-outs were not affected.\n\nMicrosoft has ruled out any malicious activity for the outage, which has left millions without access or with limited access to its services, including Outlook and Teams. NHS bodies have reported difficulties with Microsoft services on their social media platforms. The National Pharmacy Association, representing independent pharmacies, informed AFP that the issue was hindering their ability to communicate with doctors' offices, causing delays in handling patients' prescriptions.\n\nIn summary, the Microsoft outage has disrupted the UK's health services, causing delays in patient referrals and communication between pharmacies and doctors' offices.",
  "summary": "A global Microsoft outage is having a serious impact on Britain’s National Health Service, delaying patient referrals and prescriptions, a union has warned Read More: https://punchng.com/microsoft-outage-disrupts-uk-health-services-delays-patient-referrals/",
  "key_points": [
    "Microsoft outage disrupted UK NHS services",
    "Patient referrals delayed, backlog created",
    "Emergency calls unaffected by outage"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}