Cyber Security and Patient Safety in the NHS

Following our recent virtual policy discussion on Cyber Security and Patient Safety in the NHS, the Cyber Security and Business Resilience Policy Centre (CSBR) has published a new policy brief exploring how cyber resilience must increasingly be recognised as a core patient safety issue.

As the NHS becomes more dependent on digital infrastructure, the opportunities presented by technologies such as AI, cloud-based systems and the proposed Single Patient Record are significant. However, greater digital dependency also increases the potential consequences of cyber failure for patients, clinicians and the continuity of care.

Drawing on an expert roundtable convened by CSBR in partnership with The AbedGraham Group, the policy brief examines the current state of NHS cyber maturity and identifies several areas requiring further attention.

These include improving the measurement and reporting of cyber-related patient harm; strengthening regulation and assurance across the wider health and care ecosystem; conducting regular cyber simulation exercises; connecting clinical safety standards such as DCB0129 with cyber resilience; embedding security into the Single Patient Record from the outset; and strengthening accountability at board and senior leadership level.

The brief argues that digital innovation and cyber resilience cannot be treated as separate priorities. As the NHS continues its digital transformation, systems must be secure, resilient and recoverable if patients, clinicians and the public are to have confidence in digitally enabled care.

Read the full policy brief: Cyber Security and Patient Safety in the NHS