Some radiation procedures at Windsor Regional Hospital going ahead after cyberattack

Windsor Regional Hospital (WRH) saysit's been able to resume some radiation proceduresafter a ransomware attack last month resulted in patients being sent elsewhere for the treatment.

The hospital said last week thatits cancer care centre wasaffectedby the cyberattack, and officials were working to restartradiation service without the equipment being compromised.

Since Monday, treatments have resumedsafely, but according to the hospital appointments aren't back up to normal volumes yet.

"WRH's team, the IT experts and application specialists have been working non-stop and will continue to do so safely until we return to normal operations," the hospital said in a media releaseTuesday.

The hospital said that until normal operations resume, WRH will continue to work to transfer patients to other centres.

Chemotherapy patients are being treated within the hospital but there are plans for themto receive care at other hospitals ifnecessary.

"WRH fully appreciates the stress this is causing to our patients and we are trying our best to accommodate their current clinical needs while working on an immediate solution,"the hospital said."Financial support continues to be available for travel and accommodation costs."

Data released online

The Oct. 23 ransomware attack resulted in widespread systemoutages at Windsor Regional Hospital along with four other hospitals in southwestern Ontario Erie Shores HealthCare, Htel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, Bluewater Health and Chatham-Kent Health Alliancethat share an IT provider called TransForm.

The hospitals say they have had to postpone surgeries and appointments in wake of the attack. The hackers have published some information online after the hospitals refused to pay a ransom.

On Monday, the hospitals said they expect to be able to provide a timeline on the full restoration of operations in the coming days.

TransForm says that those whose privacy has been breached will be contacted.