An interesting piece of work here by the folks over at Channel 4, the last remaining outpost of reasonable TV news reporting in the UK since the demise of BBC news into a dumbed down, animated celebrity magazine.

Over the past financial year over 8,000 viruses have infected NHS computers resulting in cancelled appointments, diverted ambulances and a whole load of distress to patients. Hospitals affected range far and wide and include well known establishments such as the Royal London and Barts where Mytob ran amok in the back end of 2008. The most bizarre infection occurred at the West Middlesex Trust who allege that a Dictaphone became infected. Luckily the virus didn't spread any further than the aforementioned tape recorder but my mind does boggle.

Trusts do have a high degree of autonomy when it comes to managing desktop computers and, like everywhere, quality of IT staff varies. My biggest concern is the impact on patient care—an aspect often forgotten about by those embroiled in passing the blame.