In an interview with Independent Nurse's sister publication HR, DoH director general of workforce Clare Chapman said: 'The years of simply hiring more doctors and nurses have ended. I believe we have the capacity to provide a first-class NHS service.'

Asked if she would order NHS organisations not to divert funds meant for training, Ms Chapman, previously HR director at Tesco, said: 'I wouldn't want to.'

The Council of Deans of Health said last year that SHAs used £340 million of training funds to offset deficits in 2006/7, and five planned to do so in 2007/8.

But Ms Chapman said: 'You can't give managers the authority to make their own decisions and then take it away from them.'

Despite her reluctance to intervene, she said trusts that 'know what impact training has on service will not cut their budgets'.

Workforce experts warned that freezing recruitment coupled with cuts in training would limit the ability of the NHS to redeploy staff.

West Sussex GP and former DoH workforce adviser Dr Andrew Foulkes said: 'There is a need to build up parts of the workforce, but you need training funds.' He urged the DoH to recognise the increase in part-time staff.

RCN head of employment relations Josie Irwin said Ms Chapman sounded like a politician rather than someone focused solely on the workforce. 'She should make clear the implications of cutting budgets and spell out best practice.'

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