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| NHS 'spending lottery persists' | NHS 'spending lottery persists' |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Entrenched differences remain in the amount local health bodies spend on major diseases, a think-tank says. | |
| The King's Fund says variations in spending on mental health, cancer and heart disease across England was virtually unchanged from 2004 to 2007. | |
| The report warns the differences have a more wide-ranging effect than so-called "postcode lotteries" for cancer drugs. | The report warns the differences have a more wide-ranging effect than so-called "postcode lotteries" for cancer drugs. |
| A Department of Health spokesman said it was for primary care trusts to decide their own spending priorities. | A Department of Health spokesman said it was for primary care trusts to decide their own spending priorities. |
| The King's Fund analysis looked at spending on cancer, mental health and circulatory diseases, such as heart disease from 2004 to 2007. | The King's Fund analysis looked at spending on cancer, mental health and circulatory diseases, such as heart disease from 2004 to 2007. |
| Figures for 2006-7 show 12% of PCT spending went to mental health, 9% to coronary heart disease care and just over 6% to cancer care. | Figures for 2006-7 show 12% of PCT spending went to mental health, 9% to coronary heart disease care and just over 6% to cancer care. |
| Local NHS organisations are answerable to their local populations for the decisions they make Department of Health spokesman | Local NHS organisations are answerable to their local populations for the decisions they make Department of Health spokesman |
| The think-tank used the department's own formula for assessing need, which takes into account factors such as the number of elderly people living in an area and levels of deprivation. | The think-tank used the department's own formula for assessing need, which takes into account factors such as the number of elderly people living in an area and levels of deprivation. |
| The report found that, between the highest and lowest spending PCTs, there was more than a three-fold variation on mental health care, a 2.5-fold difference on cancer and a 2.2-fold difference on circulatory diseases. | The report found that, between the highest and lowest spending PCTs, there was more than a three-fold variation on mental health care, a 2.5-fold difference on cancer and a 2.2-fold difference on circulatory diseases. |
| The spending gaps are virtually the same as those seen in its 2006 report. | The spending gaps are virtually the same as those seen in its 2006 report. |
| The report highlights examples including Knowsley PCT spending £118 per head on cancer care, compared with Ealing PCT, which spends £47. | The report highlights examples including Knowsley PCT spending £118 per head on cancer care, compared with Ealing PCT, which spends £47. |
| Middlesbrough PCT spends £167 per head on circulatory diseases, compared with £76 by Southwark PCT. | Middlesbrough PCT spends £167 per head on circulatory diseases, compared with £76 by Southwark PCT. |
| And Islington PCT spends £322 per head on mental health care, compared with East Riding PCT which spends £114. | And Islington PCT spends £322 per head on mental health care, compared with East Riding PCT which spends £114. |
| 'Widespread effects' | 'Widespread effects' |
| The King's Fund said the Department of Health data was not perfect but warned the variations in spending were too big to be ignored. | The King's Fund said the Department of Health data was not perfect but warned the variations in spending were too big to be ignored. |
| Professor John Appleby, the King's Fund's chief economist, who compiled the report, said: "Even when local need and other legitimate reasons for variations in spending are taken into account, PCTs continue to spend varying amounts on cancer, coronary heart disease, mental health and a range of other diseases." | Professor John Appleby, the King's Fund's chief economist, who compiled the report, said: "Even when local need and other legitimate reasons for variations in spending are taken into account, PCTs continue to spend varying amounts on cancer, coronary heart disease, mental health and a range of other diseases." |
| And he said these disparities had wider effects than the high-profile issues over a "postcode lottery" access to rare cancer drugs. | And he said these disparities had wider effects than the high-profile issues over a "postcode lottery" access to rare cancer drugs. |
| "That issue is not trivial but this affects more people and involves much more money." | "That issue is not trivial but this affects more people and involves much more money." |
| Doctors' decisions about treatment and hospital efficiency could be factors influencing spending on diseases, he added. | Doctors' decisions about treatment and hospital efficiency could be factors influencing spending on diseases, he added. |
| A Department of Health spokesman said: "As long as they meet national standards and guidance, the local NHS is free to make decisions on spending priorities based on the character and needs of their local population. | A Department of Health spokesman said: "As long as they meet national standards and guidance, the local NHS is free to make decisions on spending priorities based on the character and needs of their local population. |
| "It would be impractical as well as undesirable for every single spending decision by local health managers to be dictated by Whitehall. | "It would be impractical as well as undesirable for every single spending decision by local health managers to be dictated by Whitehall. |