The more affluent area of Oxfordshire is named as the best provider, followed by areas of Devon, Herefordshire, Somerset and Dorset.

John Appleby, from think tank the King's Fund which drew up the league table, said: "The survey shows us that health authorities in deprived areas face an uphill struggle to tackle the health gap between rich and poor."

Death rates from cancer and heart disease were taken into account, along with hospital waiting lists, hip operations and deaths from "avoidable" diseases such as TB and asthma.

A survey of public opinion was also conducted, asking people to rate health service priorities. Most of those questioned put spending on heart disease and cancer at the top of the list, above funding for tackling waiting lists and hip operations.

The league table rankings were then drawn up based on how the results matched the actual performance of health authorities.

The study found that men in Manchester can expect to make it to 70 years of age - four years below the national average. Women are dying three years below the national average.

In Oxfordshire, death rates for cancer and heart disease are among the lowest in the country, and life expectancy is higher.

But the study has been criticised by Manchester Health Authority.

"I think this league table is misleading because it suggests that Manchester is failing in its role, when in fact we are dealing with people who live in some of the most deprived areas of the UK," said a spokesman.

"The health authority has done a lot of good work and has improved health under very difficult conditions.

"There are problems, but great strides are being made."

The King's Fund says the study will boost calls for poorer areas to receive extra cash to "help them make significant changes in their communities".

Public Health Minister Yvette Cooper denied that the survey accurately portrayed the quality of service being delivered by health authorities, and insisted the government was already putting extra money into tackling health inequalities linked to poverty.

The findings will be presented in a Channel 4 programme, The Sick List: The NHS From Best To Worst, on Sunday.