A DOCTOR’s surgery was forced to close last week after a GP was declared bankrupt.

Abbey Surgery in Abbey Street, Accrington closed suddenly last Friday, leaving patients in the dark as to why the practice had shut.

But the Lancashire Telegraph has learnt that Dr Alec Yolomoni Kapenda was made bankrupt in the High Court in London last Wednesday (April 18).

A bankruptcy petition was served on him by HMRC in high court against Dr Kapenda, of Royds Avenue, Accrington, on December 29, 2017 last year.

A spokesman for The Insolvency Service said: “An order was made in high court against Dr Alex Yolomoni Kapenda on April 18 where he was declared bankrupt.

“He was a general medical practitioner and lives in Royds Avenue, Accrington.

“The petitioner was HMRC and the date in which the bankruptcy petition was originally filed was December 29, 2017.”

Russ McLean, East Lancashire’s patients’ champion said the news was ‘very sad’.

He said: “He has been a GP for quite a number of years and is very well respected in the health economy.

“It’s very sad news.

“Sadly a lot of this seems to go where single-handed practices can’t survive.

“We’re seeing more and more GP practices merge together which seems to be the way forward.”

Cllr Malcolm Pritchard, who represents the Milnshaw ward on Hyndburn Council, said: “It’s very sad for anyone that goes into bankruptcy and for the patients who have been left without a GP. “

East Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group declined to comment on the bankruptcy as did Dr Kapenda.

The CCG it was ‘working with other partners to ensure that patients have continuity of care and thanked people for their patients.

It comes after patients complained of being left in the dark by the closure, confirmed late on Thursday last week.

Patients needing a GP appointment should call 01254 770480.

Anyone who needs a repeat prescription or who has run out of medication can ring 01254 770480.

If you need advice out of hours in the evening from 6.30pm and at weekends - people should call 111 as usual.