NHS Somerset has made the following statement about the global Microsoft IT outage that is affecting GPs and community pharmacies in Somerset:
The NHS is aware of a global IT outage and an issue with EMIS Web, an appointment, prescription and patient record system used by our GP practices across Somerset.
Phone systems in some surgeries are cloud-based, which means they are currently unable to answer calls.
If you have a booked appointment and have not been contacted by your surgery, then please attend as usual.
If you are unsure where to go, please check NHS online – 111.nhs.uk or call 111 for medical advice.
There is currently no known impact on 999 or emergency services, so people should use these services as they usually would.
Services in community pharmacies, including accessing prescriptions from GPs and medicine deliveries, are disrupted today. The NHS has long-standing measures in place to manage the disruption, including using paper patient records and handwritten prescriptions.
Please don’t turn up at the emergency department or our Urgent Treatment Centres, unless you have an urgent medical reason so we can keep these services for the people who need it the most.
Thank you for your patience with our staff.