UPDATE: United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust confirms it is affected by '˜cyber attack'

The trust which runs Boston, Grantham and Lincoln hospitals has confirmed it has been attacked by a cyber attack reported to be '˜creeping' across the country.

The attack is reported to block health care professionals from accessing patient records and ask for money in return for unlocking them.

A spokesman for ULHT said at least Lincoln and Pilgrim hospitals had been affected by the virus.

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They said they would be releasing a statement in due course.

A spokesman for the Lincolnshire East CCG also confirmed some doctors’ surgeries were also affected.

NHS Digital declined to comment immediately, but said it was also preparing a statement.

It is understood many hospitals are being asked to shut down their computers and tech experts are battling to fix the problem but computers at walk-in centres, hospitals, and at GP surgeries have been taken offline.

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Patients elsewhere have been urged to avoid them all ‘unless absolutely necessary’, and should call 111 for triage and medical advice.

Friday, 3.28pm - Computers have been shut down across the country after NHS computers across the county were hit by a cyber attack.

A virus is understood to have targeted the health service network somewhere in Lancashire.

It is understood United Lincolnshire’s Hospitals Trust has also been affected in someway - the Trust says it is due to put out a statement.

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NHS Digital declined to comment immediately, but said it was also preparing a statement.

It is understood tech experts are now battling to fix the problem, but computers at walk-in centres, hospitals, and at GP surgeries have been taken offline.

Patients elsewhere have been urged to avoid them all ‘unless absolutely necessary’, and should call 111 for triage and medical advice.