Police investigate hoax breach warning

Norfolk police are investigating the apparent forgery of a letter claiming that the security systems at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn had been breached.

A spokesman for the hospital confirmed that the Eastern Daily Press had been sent a letter purporting to come from chief executive NerissaVaughan that said its email system was being overhauled in light of the breach.

The paper reported that the document was on a letterhead similar to Ms Vaughan’s. It also reported that the letter said it would not be possible to tell whether emails from NHS organisations or GP surgeries were genuine until the overhaul had taken place.

The trust is planning to shut down its email system this weekend for routine maintenance. Staff at the hospital were informed of the shut-down last week.

The spokesman told eHealth Insider that because the police were investigated the alleged forgery the trust could not comment further.

However, he stressed that: “Our patient information systems remain secure and have never been compromised.” Norfolk Constabulary told the paper that the hospital had contacted its officers and “the matter is being investigated.”