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All new starters must complete Form R part A and 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). For more information, please visit the Lead Employer page.
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 relavant 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.
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) pages 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.
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 can be found here: 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 published on 1 September 2023 can be found here: Dental Gold Guide 2023 - Committee of Postgraduate Dental Deans and Directors
For any other queries, please contact the relavent school team:
| Careers advice | england.careers.nw@nhs.net |
| Policies and Procedures | |
| Revalidation | england.revalidation.nw@nhs.net |
| Study Leave | england.studyleave.nw@nhs.net |
| Training Support Network |
Page last updated: 1 May 2025