Public health spending in West Sussex was more than £40 a person less than in the east of the county last year.

Figures published today showed West Sussex Health Authority spent an average of £764.64 on each person in the year 2000-1 while East Sussex, Brighton and Hove spent £827.74.

The West Sussex figure was £581.40 lower than that of the highest spending health authority, Morecambe Bay, Cumbria, which spent £1,346.04 a person.

Lowest-spending authority was Wigan and Bolton, with a figure of £732.65, £31.99 less than West Sussex.

The Department of Health figures showed wildly varying levels of expenditure across the Britain.

Tory health spokesman Dr Liam Fox said the figures showed Prime Minister Tony Blair's promises to improve the NHS were "hollow".

He said: "Even when weighted figures are looked at, there is an enormous discrepancy between one part of the country and another."

Health authorities enjoying high levels of per-capita expenditure included Camden and Islington, in north London, with £1,067.88, Sefton, on Merseyside, with £1,040.25, Dorset £1,023.69 and Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster, with £1,011.24.

Lowest levels of spending were in County Durham and Darlington, with £738.32, East Lancashire, with £740.66, North Derbyshire, with £744.33, and West Pennine, which covers part of Greater Manchester, with £746.22.