NHS email blunder 'crashes entire system' after message sent to all 1.2 million employees

Health reporter(wp/es):

An email mistakenly sent to all 1.2miliion NHSemployees caused the entire system to crash, it has been claimed.

Staff raged about the blunder on social media, complaining the message, believed to be a test email sent by a Croydon IT worker, had inadvertently included everyone on the NHSmail system.

Thousands of replies were sent in response from frustrated users, some hitting “reply all” and causing the entire system to grind to a halt.

Staff used social media to encourage others to stop replying to the message, sent on Monday morning. 

NHS employee Colin McDonnell tweeted: "Slow handclap for the individual that sent a test email to the entire NHSmail user base, and bravo to those that 'replied to all'."

And Graham Hyde wrote: “1.2 million people have received approx 151 emails in error this morning. That's 186 million needless emails so far today.”

In a statement - sent via text message due to the email system problems - an NHS Digital spokeswoman said: "Some users have experienced short delays in the NHSmail system this morning.

“Action has been taken to resolve this issue.

"A number of email accounts have been operating slower than normal due to an NHSmail user setting up an email distribution list which inadvertently included everyone on the NHSmail system.

"As soon as we became aware of the issue, we deleted the distribution list so that no one else could respond to it. We anticipate that the issue will be rectified very soon."

A message sent to NHSmail users and seen by The Guardian described the email as a "high severity service incident".

It said that an "issue" with a distribution list meant that test emails had been more widely circulated than planned, which, combined with the replies, had left some users with "slow performance" of their emails.

It also confirmed that the distribution list had now been removed, and that "associated emails are being traced and cleared".

Alton Towers to cut up to 70 jobs after Smiler horror crash

Pic:Between 60 and 70 staff at Alton Towers face redundancy
Staff reporter(wp/es):

As many as 70 staff at Alton Towers will face redundancy next year after the theme park was hit with £5million fine following a horror rollercoaster crash.

Teenagers Vicky Balch, then 19, and Leah Washington, then 17, each lost a leg on the Smiler ride in June last year.

Stafford Crown Court heard the victims watched with "disbelief and horror" before ploughing into an empty carriage on the track, with the impact likened to a 90mph car crash.

Merlin, the entertainment company behind the themepark, was fined after the court heard an engineer "felt pressure" to get Smiler back into service after it developed a fault shortly before the devastating crash.

Alton Towers confirmed that between 60 – 70 people working at the resort would be at risk of redundancy before the 2017 season.

A spokeswoman said the resort had been looking at ways to improve its “operating model”.

She added: “A detailed review of operations has been undertaken across the business to seek further efficiencies and increase flexibility. 

“As a result of this review, Alton Towers Resort can confirm that it expects to make between 60-70 redundancies ahead of the 2017 season. 

“Alton Towers will work closely with all those affected in order to support them through the consultation process and any subsequent requirement for alternative employment and job search activities.

“This was an incredibly difficult proposal to make and it has not been taken lightly. 

“However, we are committed to the long term development of the Resort and believe that this action now, together with a continuous programme of investment, will ensure its future growth, which is so vital to the local economy."

Bond Street Tube station evacuated after man is hit by train

Crime reporter(wp/es):

A busy Tube station was evacuated today after a man was hit by a train.

Passengers were forced to leave Bond Street station after the man was struck by a Jubilee line service.

Emergency services were called to the incident at 10.30am.

Medics are currently treating the man at the scene, a British Transport Police spokesman said.

Police, ambulance and fire crews swarmed on Oxford Street after the incident.

Bystanders took to social media to report seeing a large emergency services presence in the area.

Ann Ockham tweeted: "Something big at Bond Street police fire ambulances."

One man, tweeting under the name H, wrote: "Something major going on at #bondstreet station, police, fire, ambulance crews all in."

Another named Tim said: "My heart goes out to the soul who was hit at #bondstreet underground station just now."

Transport for London said the Jubilee line was suspended between Finchley Road and Waterloo.

Central line services were not stopping at the station, TfL said.

Man fighting for life after late night attack in high street

Crime reporter(wp/es):

A man is fighting for life after a late night attack in a high street in south-west London.

The man was discovered in the early hours of Monday morning by a member of the public outside stationary shop Ryman in Sutton High Street.

Paramedics from the London Ambulance Service attended the scene and called the Met Police at 12.38am.

The man, who had suffered a head injury, was rushed to hospital.

A police spokesman said: "We were called to an injured male found by a member of the public next to a bench opposite Ryman, the stationery shop.

"His injuries are described as life threatening. Police are investigating."

An LAS spokeswoman added: “We treated a man at the scene for a head injury and took him as a priority to a major trauma centre in south London.” 

A police cordon was put in place and stores in the area reportedly ceased trading until about 10am.