North London Cancer Network

New analysis from the King’s Fund suggests ongoing variation in spending at PCT level on conditions such as cancer, mental health and circulatory disease. The report controls for variation in the health needs of local population but still suggests that some PCTs spend more than others. The King’s Fund suggest that there is a need for better information on what PCTs spend their money on and resulting health outcomes. Key findings include:

• 2.9 fold variation in spending on mental health; 2.5 fold on cancer; and 2.2 fold on circulatory diseases
  (These variations have remained virtually unchanged since 2004/5)

• The proportion spent on cancer varies from 3.6% to over 9% of PCTs’ budgets

• The government’s clinical priorities of mental health, coronary heart disease and cancer make up the largest shares of PCT spending – 12%, 9% and just over 6% respectively

Visit http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/press/press_releases/pct_spend_variations.html