MENTAL health problems have emerged as the biggest single subject for spending in the NHS in Wales.

An analysis of NHS Wales spending in 2008/09, published by the Assembly, showed that 11.6 per cent of the total health budget of just over £5 billion was spent on mental health, equivalent to £196.60 per person in Wales.

An average of 9.66 per cent of NHS budgets in Gwent's five former Local Health Board areas were spent on mental health in 2008/09, though the individual spends varied from 11.6 per cent of the total budget in Blaenau Gwent, to eight per cent in Caerphilly.

Such in-depth analysis of the spending figures gives NHS planners a better understanding of which areas of healthcare the money is going. The proportion spent on mental health - £588.3 millionin money terms - was the lowest for several years.

Almost £1 in every £10 spent in Wales on health in 2008/09 went on circulation problems, again slightly down on previous years, but reflecting the heavy toll of ill health caused by such problems in people in Wales, particularly in deprived Valleys areas.

Cancer spending increased to £58.8m, or 7.1 per cent of the total NHS Wales budget spend.

The rising cost of continuing healthcare - packages of care away from hospital, in which healthcare is the major contributor - is laid bare by the latest budget analysis.

Last year (2009/10) is was solely responsible for the Aneurin Bevan Health Board's multi-millionm pound overspend, and it remains a big financial headache for NHS bodies across Wales.

Continuing healthcare spending more than doubled, from £45.5m to £103m Wales-wide from 2005/06 to 2008/09.

Though the in-depth analysis of the 2009/10 figures has yet to be completed, the epxerience of the NHS in Gwent suggests a further big rise can be expected.