SOME of the most deprived parts of the region are to receive the lion's share of a £7bn NHS cash injection.

The biggest winner is Easington, in County Durham, which has some of the worst health statistics in England.

Primary care trusts in County Durham and Tees Valley are to share in a £3bn increase in funding over the next three years

The health service in Tyneside, Wearside and Northumberland will also receive an extra £4bn during the same period, while the NHS in North Yorkshire will get an extra £145m.

The extra money is part of a £135bn investment announced by Health Secretary John Reid yesterday.

He said those areas with the greatest needs would receive higher allocations to tackle "appalling inequalities" in life expectancy and higher rates of disease.

Easington PCT is to receive a 30 per cent increase (£43.5m) in its funding allocation during the next three years - the largest cash injection in England.

Dr Roger Bolas, chief executive of Easington Primary Care Trust, said "We are absolutely thrilled with the news we are finally to receive the funding we need to tackle the health problems here in the district."

Officials at the east Durham PCT estimate that health services in Easington have had to overcome a £76m shortfall in funding over the past three years.

Despite these problems, Dr Bolas said the PCT has made "fantastic inroads in improving the health of people living here".

Dr Bolas said the extra cash would allow the PCT to recruit more GPs, dentists, nurses and other health professionals.

Dr Reid said all PCTs would see increased funding, with the average per head for patients rising from £907 three years ago to £1,388.

The biggest percentage increases in allocations in the region were all in the County Durham and Tees Valley area.

North Tees Primary Care Trust was another big winner, receiving an extra 21.8 per cent over three years (£47.3m).

Other allocations were: Darlington (£21.3m), Derwentside (£21.7m), Durham and Chester-le-Street (£30.7m), Durham Dales (£20.1m), Hartlepool (£23.7m), Langbaurgh (£22.9m), Middlesbrough (£47.1m) and Sedgefield (£23.3m).

In North Yorkshire, the allocations were: Craven, Harrogate and Rural (£36.9m), Hambleton and Richmondshire (£20.3m), Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale (£35.4m) and Selby and York (£53.3m).

Allocations are based on size of populations and health needs.