Microsoft outage disrupts police and GP services

A global Microsoft outage is affecting services in Newquay, with GP surgeries warning patients of possible delays and police reporting problems with online submissions.

Narrowcliff Surgery and Newquay Health Centre have warned that the disruption could affect a range of services, including online consultations, appointment reminders and referrals.

Devon and Cornwall Police has also advised people to use the telephone for time-critical, non-emergency reports because some online submissions may not be reaching the force.

The problems come amid a wider Microsoft service outage affecting organisations and users around the world.

GP surgeries warn of delays

In patient notices, the surgeries said the outage could affect several day-to-day services.

Patients may experience delays in receiving responses to online consultations, text messages and appointment reminders.

The practices also warned of possible disruption to hospital correspondence, electronic discharge documents, referrals and other clinical and administrative paperwork.

They said urgent clinical matters and patient safety were being prioritised, with services continuing wherever possible.

Patients awaiting responses to online consultations or important messages have been asked to allow additional time.

Anyone with an urgent medical concern that cannot wait should telephone their practice. Outside opening hours, patients should contact NHS 111, or 999 in a life-threatening emergency.

Police advise public to call 101

Devon and Cornwall Police said several forces across the UK had been affected by the Microsoft outage.

In a statement, the force said: "Due to a global Microsoft service issue, there is some disruption in online form submissions being received."

It added: "We are asking the public to call 101 if their report is time-critical but not an emergency. In an emergency, call 999."

The force said further updates would be issued through its social media channels.

Wider disruption

The outage has also affected Microsoft services including Outlook, Teams and its artificial intelligence assistant, Copilot.

The full extent of the disruption remains unclear.