A DOCTOR'S surgery was plunged into chaos after burglars escaped with £7,500 worth of computer equipment.

Staff at the Clayton Medical Centre, Clayton-le-Moors, were left with problems organising repeat prescriptions and arranging appointments after the thieves struck.

The surgery's two doctors Dr Chris Ward and Dr Kath Hewitt could not access medical databases in their rooms.

And the computer containing all the financial records of the surgery and another clinic in High Street, Rishton, was also taken.

The burglars broke into a room at the Wellington Street surgery by removing the window with a screwdriver between 6pm last Friday at 6pm and 6am Saturday.

They stole three Pentium Desk Top computers, printers, a fax machine and other equipment from the surgery, which has a burglar alarm.

Police were called and detectives are appealing for anyone whocan help to contact them on 01254 884800.

The surgery has back up records, but there is a delay before they can be accessed. New equipment and databases have arrived but staff predict continuing problems as they update files.

Mr Clint Waddington, fund holding assistant at the practice, said: "You don't realise how much you rely on computers until they are gone.

"We had to put a notice up in the surgery so people knew what was going on and would bear with us.

"This has been a real inconvenience to the staff but everybody has chipped in to help. This week it's been a real team effort."

Detective Inspector Terry Richardson said: "There is no doubt that whoever has done this has realised the inconvenience it would cause."

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