High spenders (per head - weighted)

Morecambe Bay - �1,346.04 Camden & Islington - �1,067. 88 Sefton - �1,040.25 Dorset - 1,023. 69 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster - �1,011.24

But Shadow Health Secretary Dr Liam Fox said: "Even when weighted figures are looked at, there is an enormous discrepancy between one part of the country and another."

He said: "Recently we have seen huge discrepancies in waiting times, bed blockages, clinical outcomes and hospital waits.

He criticised Prime Minister Tony Blair's handling of the health service: "The NHS is no longer national, not providing health and is an inadequate service.

"Tony Blair's hollow words this year, which are the same promises he made last year, are completely hollow."

Reform 'challenge'

The details of what was spent where were published in a parliamentary written answer by health minister John Hutton to Conservative MP Chris Grayling earlier this month.

Other high-spending areas include Camden and Islington, north London (�1,067.88), Sefton, on Merseyside, (�1,040.25), Dorset (�1,023.69) and Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster (�1,011.24).

Low spenders (per head - weighted)

Wigan & Bolton - �732.65 County Durham & Darlington - �738.32 East Lancashire - �740. 66 North Derbyshire - �744.33 West Pennine - �746.22

At the other end of the spending spectrum were County Durham & Darlington (�738.32), East Lancashire (�740.66), North Derbyshire (�744.33) and West Pennine, which covers part of Greater Manchester, (�746.22).

In his New Year message, Mr Blair admitted: "As I travel the country, I see good and bad in the NHS.

"Indeed, I could take people to different parts of the health service where investment plus reform is helping provide care as good as anything on offer anywhere in the world.

"The challenge is to raise everyone to the standard of the best. I know there is a way to go but I am clear about how to get there.

He added: "Though we all hear and read plenty of bad stories about the NHS, for the vast majority the NHS provides high-quality care.

"We have 27,000 more nurses than in 1997, 6,700 more doctors. Ten major new hospitals have been opened and others are about to be."

In his November pre-Budget report, Chancellor Gordon Brown promised a �1bn increase in NHS funding next year, and said a "significantly higher share of national income" would have to be spent on the health service.