The NHS could make savings of up to 20 per cent if all primary care trusts spent as efficiently as the best, analysis by HSJ reveals.

The Department of Health has published its “programme budget” data, which shows how £93bn of NHS funds were spent in 2007-08.

NHS chief knowledge officer and public health consultant Sir Muir Gray said the tightening of NHS funding made it even more vital the NHS made better use of data about where the money was spent.

A DH spokeswoman said: “The NHS has received record increases but funds are clearly finite. It is important that the NHS concentrates spending on those who need it most locally, whilst continuing to provide other services for the rest of their populations.”