Sonia Simkins, 54, of Foxglove Way, Dudley, ran Hawes Lane Surgery in Rowley Regis as a sole trader. However, in July 2024, the practice closed after a bankruptcy order was made against her.  

An investigation by the Official Receiver found that between August 2019 and December 2020, and June 2023 and June 2024, Simkins should have paid £76,868 into the NHS pension fund for her staff, but only £1,722 was contributed.

During this period, she deducted more than £25,000 from her employees' salaries as pension contributions and failed to pay more than £50,000 of employer contributions.

Investigations by the Official Receiver have been unable to confirm exactly what happened to the money.

On 3 April 2025, Simkins agreed a Bankruptcy Restrictions Undertaking, which prevents her from managing a limited company for the next seven years, taking out a loan of more than £500 without disclosing the restriction, or working in some senior health service roles. 

David Chapman, senior official receiver at the Insolvency Service, said: ‘Sonia Simkins deducted pension contributions from her staff's wages, but failed to pay more than £75,000 into the NHS pension fund - while the closure of Hawes Lane Surgery had an immediate impact on staff and patients in Rowley Regis.'

Hawes Lane Surgery closed on 25 July 2024 with almost 4,000 registered patients receiving no notice of the closure. 

The Official Receiver worked closely with the Black Country ICB to ensure patients arriving for appointments that day were provided with appropriate medical care at nearby surgeries. The ICB also ensured patients at the surgery had continuing access to a GP before being re-registered at a new practice.

At the time of the closure, the practice employed 10 members of staff, including a GP and employees in receptionist and administrative roles.