Cancer patients have had treatment postponed after computer systems in at least two Scottish hospitals went into meltdown after being infected by a virus.

Cancer patients have had treatment postponed after computer systems in at least two Scottish hospitals went into meltdown after being infected by a virus.

At least 12 patients attending the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Care Centre in Glasgow will need to have appointments rescheduled after the worm affected laboratory computer systems at the Stobhill and Gartnavel General hospitals.

It is understood systems have been down for at least two days as IT experts tackle the problem.

Staff have been told the virus has affected NHS systems in other establishments in Scotland and the UK, but this was not confirmed last night.

It is understood experts are examining whether the computer problem is linked to the "mytob" virus which shut down the systems of three London hospitals five months ago.

Hundreds of patients faced delays in getting critical test results as a result of the virus which affected St Bartholomew's, the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel and The London Chest Hospital in Bethnal Green. The systems were infected for a week before being brought under control.

A senior Gartnavel staff member told The Herald last night the Beatson systems had been off since lunchtime on Wednesday. There was no indication whether they would be up and running today.

"It's a problem not just in Scotland but has affected departments around the UK.," he said. "They are calling it a worm and when they identify it it burrows deeper into the system and duplicates itself and it is getting through some very strong firewalls.

"We just can't access the computer systems at all. They are completely shut down."

Staff have been working into the night to ensure patients are unaffected by the computer issues.

A back-up system is in place to ensure cancer patients who have treatments postponed are rescheduled to meet target dates. An NHS Glasgow and Clyde spokeswoman said: "There was no impact on patient care as a result.

"However, the virus also affected 12 patient appointments at the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre.

"Arrangements have already been made for all of these patients to be given speedy alternative appointments."

A Scottish Government health spokeswoman said they were not even aware of the Glasgow issues, let alone any that existed in other parts of Scotland.

In May 2007 patient services were hindered in hospitals on Tyneside in the grip of a computer bug. The virus brought hundreds of computers at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Freeman and General hospitals, all in Newcastle, to a standstill over three weeks.

Three months earlier hundreds of patients were unable to book appointments with their doctors after NHS Grampian's computer system was struck down by a virus.