Headlines August
Nationwide PIN outage suspected to be caused by network connection failure
The nationwide pin failure that occurred at the end of the morning and prevented people from being able to pay by debit card at store cash registers was probably caused by the failure of an internal network connection at one of the transaction processors. Betaalvereniging Nederland reports.
The failure occurred at 11:30 a.m. and was resolved forty minutes later. "The PIN failure was probably due to the temporary failure of an internal network connection at one of the transaction processors operating in the Netherlands," states Betaalvereniging Nederland. "Because debit card payments run through different transaction processors and different connections and systems, only part of all retail POS terminals will have been affected by this failure. The PIN failure did not affect ATM withdrawals. The infrastructure for ATMs is largely separate from the infrastructure for point-of-sale terminals.
Source: https://www.security.nl/posting/805710/Landelijke+pinstoring+vermoedelijk+ontstaan+door+uitval+van+netwerkverbinding?channel=twitter
Alrijne Hospital: 'Money insurers run out so we close operating rooms'
The Alrijne Hospital will close the operating rooms in its Leiden and Alphen aan den Rijn branches during the month of October. A spokesman confirms reports of this in the Leidsch Dagblad. The operating rooms in Leiderdorp will remain open, but in principle only Zorg en Zekerheid policyholders will be treated there.
Reason for the measure are the reimbursements agreed with insurers. These are too low and the money has run out. The hospital does not want to continue operating at its own expense, and therefore operations are cancelled. Zorg en Zekerheid is the largest insurer at Alrijne and there is still enough budget available.
The spokesman says that in the meantime talks have been held with other insurers and extra money has become available. But that is insufficient to continue operating. An exception is made for emergency care, oncological care, pediatrics up to age 16, obstetrics and osteoarthritis care.
Consultation with specialists
So other operations will no longer be performed. 'If it is medically justified,' says a spokesperson. According to her, the cancellation of operations is done in consultation with the treating specialist.
Patients in danger of being affected by the measure are advised to call their insurance company and ask for waiting list mediation. Then they might be able to go to another hospital for treatment.
Patients the dupe
The Patients Federation is concerned about the situation in Alrijne. 'This is not how healthcare should work,' said a spokesperson. 'Patients bear the brunt of this measure and it leads to a lot of uncertainty and unrest.' The Patients' Federation hopes that the hospital and insurers will come out of it quickly.
Source: https://www.omroepwest.nl/nieuws/4746175/alrijne-ziekenhuis-geld-verzekeraars-op-dus-we-sluiten-operatiekamers
Dozens of Zeeland business owners worried about full power grid
Dozens of worried entrepreneurs have contacted employers' organization VNO-NCW Brabant Zeeland and regional development company Impuls Zeeland in recent weeks. The companies are worried about the electricity grid in our province. Grid operator TenneT announced four weeks ago that the Zeeland electricity grid is full and that there will be a temporary stop for new applications.
Province Administrator Jo-Annes de Bat spoke today about the problems on the electricity grid in Zeeland. First with VNO-NCW and then with Impuls Zeeland. The fact that the talks took place in the middle of the summer vacations shows how acute the problem is.
The temporary stop announced by TenneT is disastrous for new companies that want to connect to the electricity grid. They cannot start business as a result. Existing companies that want a heavier connection also have to wait. Economic development in Zeeland is thus delayed.
Sustainability in the balance
The electricity grid in Zeeland is being expanded, but too slowly. Demand is far greater than supply. Many of Zeeland's large industrial consumers want to become more sustainable and that requires electricity. So that sustainability is now in trouble.
To get a good picture of the concerns among its members, VNO-NCW has conducted a survey. Impuls Zeeland is also asking Zeeland entrepreneurs to report their problems because of the announced shutdown.
Albert Meiresonne, manager of internationalization at Impuls Zeeland, said:
"Despite it being a vacation, dozens of entrepreneurs have already reported to us. Many of these reports are entrepreneurs who have not yet submitted concrete plans, i.e. are not yet on the waiting list, but do have ideas for the future. They are concerned about how to develop the business now. The list also includes a number of international companies that wanted to establish themselves here and now see their plans go up in smoke. Among these are also companies that can actually contribute to the energy transition."
Meeting in September
The manager let it be known that a meeting will now take place on September 26 to which entrepreneurs will be invited. VNO-NCW, Impuls Zeeland, the province and TenneT will be present. "Entrepreneurs can then tell their story and hear what plans there are, which they can then anticipate," Meiresonne says.
Today's talks are the first in a series that should lead to a solution. Soon the province, VNO-NCW and Impuls Zeeland want to sit down with grid managers TenneT and Stedin. And on September 1, the Energy Council will meet. This council includes representatives from business, government and electricity and gas suppliers. An online session for councilors and members of the States is scheduled for September 7, and on September 13 there will be a meeting with the aldermen of Zeeland's municipalities.
Talking and accelerating
Deputy Jo-Annes de Bat says: "Our role is to ensure that discussions continue and that the consequences are quickly and sharply brought into focus. We also have a driving role for a number of projects that we need to accelerate. An example is the 380kv connection to Zeeuws-Vlaanderen. We are having consultations about this with the Minister of Energy and Climate this week. This also applies to other projects. Too often they get bogged down in procedures. This must be improved. Using our knowledge of Zeeland, its entrepreneurs and moving along faster helps."
Source: https://www.omroepzeeland.nl/nieuws/15793781/tientallen-zeeuwse-ondernemers-ongerust-over-vol-stroomnet
Fire department wants to put out hospital fire, but encounters closed barrier
The Hilversum fire department had some trouble getting to the fire at the Tergooi hospital last night: at least one fire engine was hampered by a barrier that did not open. The hospital is investigating where it went wrong. "This should never happen," a spokesman says firmly.
Exactly why it went wrong is not yet entirely clear. It seems, according to the hospital spokesman, that the fire department used the wrong approach route to reach the hospital. "After all, there is a separate barrier for emergency services," she says.
But the fire department found themselves in the wrong place. The barrier did not open, so at least one fire engine took longer to reach the fire.
Very few problems ensued, according to the fire department, although it was inconvenient. "It was only one car, the other fire trucks were sent over another road beforehand and therefore did get there quickly," a spokesperson stated. "We have different routes to reach the hospital and use the best route on a case-by-case basis."
Hospital is investigating
The possible mistake may have to do with "newness. The brand-new Tergooi Hospital in Hilversum opened only last spring. Last night's fire alarm was only the first since the new building was built.
For the hospital this is no excuse, because in the heat of the moment it has to be clear how the hospital can be reached by emergency services as quickly as possible. "We would therefore like to know why it went wrong. Obviously this should never happen. Now it was a relatively small fire, but if it really matters, the emergency services must of course be able to reach us as quickly as possible, without obstacles. That has our full attention." The hospital says it is looking into the matter and will also evaluate the incident later with the fire department.
Source: https://www.nhnieuws.nl/nieuws/323636/brandweer-voor-dichte-slagboom-bij-brand-ziekenhuis-tergooi-doet-onderzoek
The nationwide pin failure that occurred at the end of the morning and prevented people from being able to pay by debit card at store cash registers was probably caused by the failure of an internal network connection at one of the transaction processors. Betaalvereniging Nederland reports.
The failure occurred at 11:30 a.m. and was resolved forty minutes later. "The PIN failure was probably due to the temporary failure of an internal network connection at one of the transaction processors operating in the Netherlands," states Betaalvereniging Nederland. "Because debit card payments run through different transaction processors and different connections and systems, only part of all retail POS terminals will have been affected by this failure. The PIN failure did not affect ATM withdrawals. The infrastructure for ATMs is largely separate from the infrastructure for point-of-sale terminals.
Source: https://www.security.nl/posting/805710/Landelijke+pinstoring+vermoedelijk+ontstaan+door+uitval+van+netwerkverbinding?channel=twitter
Alrijne Hospital: 'Money insurers run out so we close operating rooms'
The Alrijne Hospital will close the operating rooms in its Leiden and Alphen aan den Rijn branches during the month of October. A spokesman confirms reports of this in the Leidsch Dagblad. The operating rooms in Leiderdorp will remain open, but in principle only Zorg en Zekerheid policyholders will be treated there.
Reason for the measure are the reimbursements agreed with insurers. These are too low and the money has run out. The hospital does not want to continue operating at its own expense, and therefore operations are cancelled. Zorg en Zekerheid is the largest insurer at Alrijne and there is still enough budget available.
The spokesman says that in the meantime talks have been held with other insurers and extra money has become available. But that is insufficient to continue operating. An exception is made for emergency care, oncological care, pediatrics up to age 16, obstetrics and osteoarthritis care.
Consultation with specialists
So other operations will no longer be performed. 'If it is medically justified,' says a spokesperson. According to her, the cancellation of operations is done in consultation with the treating specialist.
Patients in danger of being affected by the measure are advised to call their insurance company and ask for waiting list mediation. Then they might be able to go to another hospital for treatment.
Patients the dupe
The Patients Federation is concerned about the situation in Alrijne. 'This is not how healthcare should work,' said a spokesperson. 'Patients bear the brunt of this measure and it leads to a lot of uncertainty and unrest.' The Patients' Federation hopes that the hospital and insurers will come out of it quickly.
Source: https://www.omroepwest.nl/nieuws/4746175/alrijne-ziekenhuis-geld-verzekeraars-op-dus-we-sluiten-operatiekamers
Dozens of Zeeland business owners worried about full power grid
Dozens of worried entrepreneurs have contacted employers' organization VNO-NCW Brabant Zeeland and regional development company Impuls Zeeland in recent weeks. The companies are worried about the electricity grid in our province. Grid operator TenneT announced four weeks ago that the Zeeland electricity grid is full and that there will be a temporary stop for new applications.
Province Administrator Jo-Annes de Bat spoke today about the problems on the electricity grid in Zeeland. First with VNO-NCW and then with Impuls Zeeland. The fact that the talks took place in the middle of the summer vacations shows how acute the problem is.
The temporary stop announced by TenneT is disastrous for new companies that want to connect to the electricity grid. They cannot start business as a result. Existing companies that want a heavier connection also have to wait. Economic development in Zeeland is thus delayed.
Sustainability in the balance
The electricity grid in Zeeland is being expanded, but too slowly. Demand is far greater than supply. Many of Zeeland's large industrial consumers want to become more sustainable and that requires electricity. So that sustainability is now in trouble.
To get a good picture of the concerns among its members, VNO-NCW has conducted a survey. Impuls Zeeland is also asking Zeeland entrepreneurs to report their problems because of the announced shutdown.
Albert Meiresonne, manager of internationalization at Impuls Zeeland, said:
"Despite it being a vacation, dozens of entrepreneurs have already reported to us. Many of these reports are entrepreneurs who have not yet submitted concrete plans, i.e. are not yet on the waiting list, but do have ideas for the future. They are concerned about how to develop the business now. The list also includes a number of international companies that wanted to establish themselves here and now see their plans go up in smoke. Among these are also companies that can actually contribute to the energy transition."
Meeting in September
The manager let it be known that a meeting will now take place on September 26 to which entrepreneurs will be invited. VNO-NCW, Impuls Zeeland, the province and TenneT will be present. "Entrepreneurs can then tell their story and hear what plans there are, which they can then anticipate," Meiresonne says.
Today's talks are the first in a series that should lead to a solution. Soon the province, VNO-NCW and Impuls Zeeland want to sit down with grid managers TenneT and Stedin. And on September 1, the Energy Council will meet. This council includes representatives from business, government and electricity and gas suppliers. An online session for councilors and members of the States is scheduled for September 7, and on September 13 there will be a meeting with the aldermen of Zeeland's municipalities.
Talking and accelerating
Deputy Jo-Annes de Bat says: "Our role is to ensure that discussions continue and that the consequences are quickly and sharply brought into focus. We also have a driving role for a number of projects that we need to accelerate. An example is the 380kv connection to Zeeuws-Vlaanderen. We are having consultations about this with the Minister of Energy and Climate this week. This also applies to other projects. Too often they get bogged down in procedures. This must be improved. Using our knowledge of Zeeland, its entrepreneurs and moving along faster helps."
Source: https://www.omroepzeeland.nl/nieuws/15793781/tientallen-zeeuwse-ondernemers-ongerust-over-vol-stroomnet
Fire department wants to put out hospital fire, but encounters closed barrier
The Hilversum fire department had some trouble getting to the fire at the Tergooi hospital last night: at least one fire engine was hampered by a barrier that did not open. The hospital is investigating where it went wrong. "This should never happen," a spokesman says firmly.
Exactly why it went wrong is not yet entirely clear. It seems, according to the hospital spokesman, that the fire department used the wrong approach route to reach the hospital. "After all, there is a separate barrier for emergency services," she says.
But the fire department found themselves in the wrong place. The barrier did not open, so at least one fire engine took longer to reach the fire.
Very few problems ensued, according to the fire department, although it was inconvenient. "It was only one car, the other fire trucks were sent over another road beforehand and therefore did get there quickly," a spokesperson stated. "We have different routes to reach the hospital and use the best route on a case-by-case basis."
Hospital is investigating
The possible mistake may have to do with "newness. The brand-new Tergooi Hospital in Hilversum opened only last spring. Last night's fire alarm was only the first since the new building was built.
For the hospital this is no excuse, because in the heat of the moment it has to be clear how the hospital can be reached by emergency services as quickly as possible. "We would therefore like to know why it went wrong. Obviously this should never happen. Now it was a relatively small fire, but if it really matters, the emergency services must of course be able to reach us as quickly as possible, without obstacles. That has our full attention." The hospital says it is looking into the matter and will also evaluate the incident later with the fire department.
Source: https://www.nhnieuws.nl/nieuws/323636/brandweer-voor-dichte-slagboom-bij-brand-ziekenhuis-tergooi-doet-onderzoek
Translated from Dutch to English with Google translate