Blood test patients were still being turned away from Whipps Cross almost a fortnight after the hospital was hit by a cyber-attack.

Barts Health NHS Trust, which runs the Leytonstone hospital, was badly affected by a global malware attack, which first hit 45 NHS sites on Friday, May 12.

The trust said normal service had resumed on Thursday (May 25), however, some patients told the Guardian they were still being turned away from blood tests almost a fortnight prior.

Barts Health declined to tell the Guardian how many blood tests had been cancelled as a result of the cyber-attack, but said a “small number of less urgent” procedures had been postponed.

One patient, who asked not to be named, said: “I went down there to see the consultant and to my amazement, when I walked in the place was empty.

“They told me all they are doing is taking blood from people who are due to go in for an operation, it is not good, especially if your life depends on it.”

The cyber-attack, which hit organisations in 100 different countries, initially caused ambulances to be diverted and other problems with trauma and stroke care at Bart’s centres.

Some planned surgery and outpatient appointments were able to go ahead, although other operations were cancelled.

A Barts Health spokesman said: “Following the unprecedented cyber-attack, which affected the NHS on May 12, we prioritised all urgent blood tests to make sure patients most in need continued to receive safe care.

“For this reason a small number of less urgent appointments were postponed. We are very sorry to anyone who has been affected and we are rescheduling appointments as soon as possible.

“Thanks to our dedicated staff, our pathology service returned to normal earlier this week.”