The Deputy Premier says the health care system is slowly gaining access to IT services in the wake of what she’s calling an “unprecedented” cyber attack.

The Opposition questioned the absence of Premier Andrew Furey – who is on his way back to the province from Scotland, where he was attending the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow.

Opposition Leader David Brazil referenced the regular public updates provided during COVID and Snowmageddon, and asked Deputy Premier Siobhan Coady whether residents can expect the same given the cyber attack and its impact on the health care system.

Coady says they are taking the advice of “world class experts” and confirmed that they are “slowly and diligently restoring access to IT services.

Eastern Health says it is working to bring its health care and clinical systems back online in what it’s calling a safe and controlled manner.

In a release issued late this afternoon, the health authority says the restoration of services will be a gradual process.

Eastern Health’s email system is back up and running and work continues as they test and restore other affiliated systems.

Earlier story

Eastern Health says its payroll system is functioning as normal.

The health authority is responding to questions raised as a result of the cyber attack on the health care system on the weekend.

Callers to VOCM Open Line with Paddy Daly expressed concern about whether health care employees would see delays in getting paid following the IT outage.

Eastern Health says the next regularly schedule payday for Eastern Health employees is Thursday, November 11th, but payroll will be delivered on the 10th due to the Remembrance Day holiday.

The health authority says as of today, the system is functioning as normal and they are processing payroll as they usually would.