Almost a third of London's primary care trusts have been classed as high risk because of their financial situation, governance ability and quality performance under NHS London's new monitoring regime.

Ten PCTs got a red light for their performance across the three main areas after their annual operating plans were risk-assessed by the strategic health authority.

Bexley, Enfield, Havering, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Kingston, Brent, Lewisham, Waltham Forest and Sutton and Merton PCTs were all given red lights.

Although the SHA says in its rankings that 'ideally the majority of PCTs would be in the low-risk category', only seven of London's 31 PCTs were regarded as low risk. The remaining 14 were ranked medium.

London SHA chief executive Ruth Carnall said she hoped the results would 'spur' improvements in the coming year. 'Given the challenges London's NHS has faced over the past year, it's not surprising to see assessments running across the range of ratings,' she said.

The risk assessments have been done for the first time under a new commissioning regime launched by NHS London last month.

The 10 'high risk' PCTs were found to be failing to ensure good governance in key areas and persistently or deliberately failing to address other areas of governance.

Seven scored the lowest possible mark, one out of five, for finance, meaning they have a significant deficit and a high risk of not achieving balance. No London PCTs scored a maximum five in this area.

Ealing PCT chief executive Robert Creighton, also chair of the London PCT chief executives group, said the high-risk PCTs 'have a hard job to do next year'.

'Some may take a few months and others more than a year to improve,' he said.

But he said London PCT chief executives supported the risk assessment process overall.

Brent PCT turnaround director Phil Church said: 'It is a measure of the fairness of the system that we scored two based on our plans for recovery rather than one for our initial financial state.

'It is also a reflection of NHS London's confidence in the planning and execution of our recovery plan.'

Risk ratings have also been given to acute trusts in the capital, six of which gained a red light in at least one area.

Bromley Hospitals trust was rated red for governance, Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals trust and Queen Mary's Sidcup trust were rated red for services provided.

Newham University Hospital, Bromley Hospitals, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and South West London and St George's Mental Health trusts were rated red for quality and safety.

Download part one of the NHS London risk assessment here

Download part two of the NHS London risk assessment here