One out of three London health trusts still in red

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

A report into NHS finances shows huge variations in financial performance, with one in three of the capital's primary care and hospital trusts still in deficit.

The inquiry by the Commons public accounts committee found services in more affluent parts of London were among those with the biggest problems.

These included Hillingdon Primary Care Trust which has a historic debt of £43 million - which has effectively been written off in the short-term, but will need to be paid off eventually. Kingston and Sutton are also struggling.

The situation means trusts in poorer areas that have balanced their books are bailing out some in well-off parts of the capital.

The committee found that patients were suffering because services were being frozen or postponed as health bosses diverted cash to cut their deficits.

The NHS in London does now have a surplus of £300 million following two years of being millions in the red.

But committee chairman Edward Leigh said that the NHS was not yet on the road to " longterm financial health".

He added: "Bad financial management at local level can have significant consequences for patients. There's a clear link between the financial performance of a body and the quality of its clinical services."

The committee's findings are based on 2006/07 accounts filed by health bosses. MPs did say that overall quality of healthcare seemed to have improved.

Yesterday, ministers announced tough action against trusts that underperform. Private firms could be drafted in to run failing hospitals for the first time.