The recovery of a primary care trust dogged by financial and performance failings has been dubbed 'remarkable'.

Brent PCT was criticised for an 'arrogant and isolated' approach, 'serious failings' of corporate governance, 'very poor' financial oversight and creating a 'schism' between itself and its GPs, in a report published last year.

But in a progress update, review author Michael Taylor says the PCT has "assiduously" addressed his 50 recommendations, meeting almost all of them in full.

But he warns there are still concerns that the PCT cannot attract and keep skilled finance and performance staff. And he says some staff fear criticism from elsewhere in the NHS after they turned a£25m deficit into a forecast£11.5m surplus, meaning they are now contributing cash to reducing the London-wide NHS debt.

Team effort

New chief executive Mark Easton said the improvement had been a "really great team effort", with a fresh leadership team drawn largely from the former North Central London strategic health authority.

HSJ's Delivering the Primary and Community Care Strategy conference is on 25 March, www.hsj-primaryandcommunitycare.com

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