Staff members at Brook said the boiler was broken for more than a year leaving them with no heating or hot water.

“Everyone was in scarves and gloves, and we were struggling to weigh babies or do smear tests in the severe cold,” one former worker said, “if we used fan heaters the electrics would trip during consultations.”

“We had to clean up with sanitiser, and I couldn’t open dressing packs because my hands were so numb,” another said.

The boiler was replaced last month.

The BBC has seen various overdue invoices addressed to County since September, including a letter from HMRC requesting urgent payment of £4,500, a letter from a debt collection agency and a civil claim for £460 from a fire safety company.

Former staff claimed County had been a profitable surgery prior to being taken over in 2020.

One of those who spoke to the BBC said: “It doesn’t make sense that doctors weren’t being replaced and nurses’ hours were cut afterwards – we became reliant on locums, and some weren’t coming back because they were owed money.”

Since coming under new management, the number of permanent GPs at the Northamptonshire practices has reduced from seven to one.

“I dread to think what might happen,” one employee said. “People are being put in danger and people will die this winter if things don’t change.”