A GP practice manager from Dudley has been hit with seven years of bankruptcy restrictions after failing to pay over £75,000 into the NHS pension fund, despite deducting the money from her staff’s wages.
Sonia Simkins, aged 54, formerly managed Hawes Lane Surgery in Rowley Regis as a sole trader. In July 2024, the surgery was abruptly shut down following a bankruptcy order made against her. Nearly 4,000 patients were left without notice of the closure, and 10 staff members, including a GP and support staff, were affected.
An investigation by the Official Receiver found that Simkins had deducted pension contributions from employees’ salaries but did not transfer the funds to the NHS pension scheme.
A total of £76,868 was due, yet only £1,722 was paid. This included over £25,000 in staff deductions and more than £50,000 in unpaid employer contributions.
The investigation was unable to determine exactly what happened to the missing funds. As a result, Simkins agreed to a Bankruptcy Restrictions Undertaking (BRU) on 3 April 2025.
Under the terms of this BRU, she is banned from managing a company, taking out loans over £500 without declaring the restriction, and working in certain senior roles within the health service until April 2032.
The closure of the practice had immediate consequences for the local community. The Black Country Integrated Care Board (BCICB) stepped in to provide urgent medical care and ensure patients were transferred to nearby GP surgeries for continued access to treatment.
The Insolvency Service confirmed that Simkins accepted the findings of the investigation and acknowledged her misconduct.
This case highlights the importance of accountability in healthcare management and the impact such financial mismanagement can have on both NHS staff and patients.
