The overall financial performance of NHS trusts and primary care trusts (PCTs) in England is good and improving, the Audit Commission has concluded. But the independent watchdog says that there is still room for improvement, with nine NHS trusts failing to meet minimum standards this year and with relatively few assessed as performing strongly. The overall financial performance of PCTs was good, but no PCT received an excellent rating this year. The commission has published its annual financial performance tables that assess how NHS trusts and PCTs manage their resources and whether they deliver value for money. It found that 93% of NHS trusts (116 trusts) met or exceeded minimum standards, compared with 91% in 2007-8. Nine per cent of NHS trusts (11 trusts) were assessed …