On this page:
A welcome letter from Professor Roisin Haslett, our Regional Postgraduate Dean
All new starters must complete a Form R (Part A) and Form R (Part B), and sign the Conditions of Joining.
With the exception of those on Dental, Foundation or Public Health training programmes, these must be completed via TIS Self Service (TSS).
If you do not already have a TSS account (except those on Dental, Foundation or Public Health training programmes), you should receive details of how to create an account to the email address used as part of your recruitment application.
The North West of England has a ‘Lead Employer’ for all doctors and dentists in training, with the exception of Foundation doctors and Academic Clinical Lecturers.
Our Lead Employer will be your employer for the whole of your training programme, no matter which host organisation you are placed with (unless you are out of programme).
Our Lead Employer is Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (formerly St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospital NHS Trust).
Go to the Lead Employer's Website
The Gold Guide States:
3.38 The start of training for foundation, core and specialty training may normally only be deferred on statutory grounds (e.g. maternity/paternity/adoption leave, ill health). For the Defence Medical Academy only, training may also be deferred to meet Defence Medical Services operational requirements.
To request a deferment for any reason, please contact the relevant school team for the specialty you will be starting in, with as much notice as possible.
If you wish to apply for less than full-time training (LTFT) please visit our dedicated LTFT page for our full policy details and application form.
In the North West of England, our Relocation and excess travel is managed by our Lead Employer. Please visit the 'policies' section of the Lead Employer website for our policy and details on how to claim.
Go to Lead Employer's 'Policies' section
Support is available for Doctors, Dentists and Public Health practitioners who are returning to training after a break for any reason, or International Medical Graduates (IMGs) who are new to the NHS in their first training post.
Please visit our Supported Return to Training (SuppoRTT) webpages for more information.
If you are an IMG doctor starting training you may find resources on our 'International Doctors' webpages helpful to support you before you arrive in the UK, during your induction period and throughout your training.
Go to the 'International Doctors' pages
The Gold Guide is a reference guide for Postgraduate Specialty Training in the UK. It is applicable to all postgraduate Resident Doctors on taking up appointments in specialty (including GP and Foundation) training. The 10th edition published on 7 August 2024.
Go to Gold Guide - 10th Edition - Conference Of Postgraduate Medical Deans
The Dental Gold Guide is a reference guide for Postgraduate Dental Core and Specialty Training in the UK. It is applicable to all dentists on taking up appointments in core and specialty training. The 4th edition was published on 1 September 2023.
Go to Dental Gold Guide 2023 - Committee of Postgraduate Dental Deans and Directors
Please note that your personal data is stored by NHS England on both computer and manual systems. This will routinely be stored for 6 years after you leave the organisation. Where appropriate, this information may be shared with those who have responsibility for the organisation, management and delivery of training to help them deliver their roles. Details of the information we collect and how we protect your data can be found in our privicy notice:
Go to NHS England - Workforce, Training and Education Privacy Notice
Updated 12 Novemeber 2025
For any other queries, including if you wish to count any previous training towards your CCT, please contact the relevant school team.
Go to Specialty School's contact page
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last updated 12 November 2025