GP surgeries across Northern Ireland have been warned about their IT security following a cyber attack on a the computer systems in a Co Derry practice.
The Health and Social Care Board confirmed a "malware incident' took place at the Glendermott GP Practice, which is based in the Waterside Health Centre in Derry city on Friday, December 7.
It is understood their IT systems were "locked down" for the day and the surgery had to switch to a paper-based system, creating "significant disruption".
A Board spokeswoman confirmed there was "nothing to indicate that patient data has been breached" at the surgery, which continued to see patients throughout the day.
"The Business Services Organisations’s ITS team, working with the wider health and social care system, dealt with and contained the incident," she added.
"Guidance to optimise application of existing good practice in relation to Health and Social Care ICT security has been issued to all GP practices."
It is understood additional precautionary IT security measures were put in place at the health centre, which meant that a small number of patients had their appointments postponed but will have them reschuedled.
Two other GP practices are located in the centre, but their systems were not affected.
Doctors across the north are being advised to be wary of opening up unusual emails or to report any suspicious online activity.
