SPENDING on cancer and heart disease in East Lancashire is lower than most other parts of England, a major study has found.

Of the 303 health authorities in England which decide where cash goes in the NHS, parts of East Lancashire sank as low as 267 in league tables covering three key funding areas.

Today health bosses said the figures showed the extent of long-term under-funding- but things were getting better.

The data was compiled by national think tank The King's Fund which said it highlights a "postcode lottery" for patients.

It shows the average spending per person among NHS primary care trusts for three key areas - cancer and tumours, circulatory problems including coronary heart disease and mental health.

The results showed: l Cancer: Blackburn with Darwen was ranked at 205 (£68 per head), Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale 217 (£67 per head) and Hyndburn and Ribble Valley at 133 (£78 per head). The highest spending was Daventry and South Northamptonshire PCT at £132.

l Circulatory problems: Blackburn was Darwen was ranked at 260 (£105 per head), Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale 182 (£120 per head) and Hyndburn and Ribble Valley at 187 (£119 per head). The highest spending was Wyre PCT at £173.

l Mental health: Blackburn was Darwen was ranked at 225 (£123 per head), Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale 267 (£111 per head) and Hyndburn and Ribble Valley at 80 (£156 per head). The highest spending was Derbyshire Dales and South Derbyshire PCT at £265.

Paul Hinnigan, acting chief executive of Blackburn with Darwen PCT, said the authority "welcomes this benchmarking data which is provided in this form for the first time".

He said: "It will allow us to compare our spending patterns and evaluate the decisions we make."

Yet he said investment had gone up since 2003-2005, which the data is based on.

Dr Ellis Friedman, director of public health at Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale PCT said: "We in the North West have suffered from historic under-funding, though our allocation has been increasing gradually and we are getting closer to our fair share of resources.

"Until that is achieved fully, both of these factors continue to push our figures down."

He said mental health in particular "needs a wider breadth and depth" of services. The first ever dedicated mental health authority, Lancashire Care Trust, was set up in 2002.

David Rogers, deputy chief executive at Hyndburn and Ribble Valley PCT, said: "The figures reflect under-investment in East Lancs. The PCT is keen to use this information to influence further decisions."

Funding had since increased, he said, and added: "If that piece of work was done today we would see more investment per head of population."

Both said some PCTs paid out more than others because services were more expensive to run with higher building and staff costs.

However, the King's Fund said this factor had been taken into account along with higher demand for services in areas where people's lifestyles make them more likely to need help.

It said the differences were caused by deliberate choices by PCTs on how to spend their money and the standard of services available to them.