North West School of Surgery - Otolaryngology (ENT)

School of Surgery HomeSpecialtiesTRESMACHNOTSSSuppoRTT

ARCPEducational SupervisorsSurgical Resident DoctorsTPDsSurgical Tutors

Otolaryngology (ENT)

Otolaryngology (ENT) in the north west of England is managed as a single training programme covering the whole region. There are no separate 'Cheshire and Merseyside' or 'Greater Manchester, Lancashire and South Cumbria' sectors in this specialty.

Key Contacts

Mr Sunil Sharma,

Otolaryngology (ENT) Training Programme Director

Based at Alder Hey Children's Hospital

Annual Review of Competence Progression (ARCP)

Go to ARCP information for Otolaryngology (ENT)

NHS England – North West Programme Support for Vascular Surgery

Programme Support Administrator for Surgery

Otolayngology (ENT) Curriculum

For the most up to date syllabus and curriculum, please visit the ISCP website.

The up to date JCST Certification Guidelines are available within the currilculum pages of the ISCP website.

Overview

This comprehensive higher surgical training programme in Otolaryngology/Head and Neck surgery encompasses all the ENT Departments within the north west of England.

The curriculum will involve the acquiring of specialist competencies in the 4-6 years after entry to higher surgical training at ST3 and full details of the curriculum can be viewed on the ISCP website www.iscp.ac.uk.

Training Rotation

There are multiple hospitals in the area to give all trainees training in all the sub-specialities including General ENT, Rhinology, Facial Plastics, Paediatric ENT, Head and Neck Surgery including Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery, Laryngology, Otology, Implantation Otology and Skull Base and Neurotology is available within the region.

Educational Opportunities

Trainees in ST3 and above until CCT will be expected to attend local educational programmes which are held within the hospital they are working in.

There is also a comprehensive teaching programme which takes place on a monthly basis. All units facilitate attendance at these sessions. Each unit also undertakes a weekly teaching session.

In addition there are opportunities for surgical cadaver dissection courses and workshops conducted locally and also an annual viva training day to prepare candidates for the intercollegiate examination. Trainees can also use the facilities at the new Surgical Simulation and Skills Centre at Royal Albert Edward Infirmary, Wigan for surgical training on 3 D Haptic Voxelman simulators including temporal bone drilling, and endoscopic sinus surgery.

Research and Audit

Opportunities for clinical research exist within all departments involved in the programme and trainees are expected to take advantage of this. There are ACF opportunities, as well as MD and PhD opportunities for those trainees who would like to take them. The main research department is at Aintree University Hospital under the supervision of Prof Terry Jones.

All trainees should be actively involved in audit on an ongoing basis and be in a position to demonstrate this at annual appraisal and ARCP. Teaching of less experienced medical colleagues, medical students, nurses and other paramedical staff is an integral part of the post and all trainees are expected to be involved in this.

Hospitals on the Otolaryngology (ENT) East Sector Rotation

Site Trust
Aintree University Hospital Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Alder Hey Children's Hospital Alder Hey Children's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Arrowe Park Hospital Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Blackpool Victoria Hospital Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Countess Of Chester Hospital Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Fairfield General Hospital Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust
Leighton Hospital Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Manchester Royal Infirmary Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
North Manchester General Hospital Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
Royal Albert Edward Infirmary Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust
Royal Blackburn Hospital East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
Royal Bolton Hospital Bolton Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
The Royal Liverpool University Hospital Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Royal Manchester Children's Hospital Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
Royal Preston Hospital Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Salford Royal Hospital Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust
Stepping Hill Hospital Stockport NHS Foundation Trust
Tameside General Hospital Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
Warrington Hospital Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Wythenshawe Hospital Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

GMC Programme Code: NWE1063 (was NWD931 and MER972) and NWE1140 (run-through - was NWD4032 and MER4033)

National Otolaryngology (ENT) ST3 Recruitment

National Recruitment for ST3 Vascular Surgery is managed by NHS England – Yorkshire and the Humber.

NHS England – Yorkshire and the Humber's Recruitment website

National NHS England Recruitment Website (includes Timelines, Guidance, Competition Ratios etc.)

ST3 Otolaryngology (ENT) person specification link updated 2 Oct 2025

JCST:Surgical selection in the UK

Applications open 20 Nov 2025

HEE North West mapOtolaryngology (ENT) in North West England

Sector: N/A - appointment is to the whole north west region
Vacancies: TBC
Start Date: 5 August 2026
Grade: ST3
Programme Length: 72 months
Apply via Oriel

Applications open 20 Nov 2025

HEE North West mapOtolaryngology (ENT) in North West England

Sector: N/A - appointment is to the whole north west region
Vacancies: TBC
Start Date: 3 February 2027
Grade: ST3
Programme Length: 72 months
Apply via Oriel

Otolaryngology (ENT) ACF Recruitment

Recruitment to Otolaryngology (ENT) Academic Clinical Fellow (ACF) posts in the North West is managed by NHS England – North West.

Click here to go to NHS England – North West's Recruitment website

Applications close 4pm 30 Oct 2025

HEE North West mapOtolaryngology (ENT) ACF in North West England

Sector: N/A - appointment is to the whole north west region - University of Liverpool
Vacancies: 1
Start Date: 5 August 2026
Grade: ST3
Programme Length: 72 months
Apply via Oriel

Links

ENT UK

ISCP (Surgical E-portfolio)

Virtual Tour of the ear

e-medicine textbook of otorhinolaryngology

Head and Neck cancer support information

National library of medicine: patient information on ENT

Joint Committee on Surgical Training

British association of Paediatric Otorhinolaryngology

Association of Otolaryngologists in training

Ear Surgery information Center: Concise website covering all aspects of otological surgery

NHS England – North West Links

Training Support Network  
SuppoRTT (Supported Return to Training) england.supportt.nw@nhs.net
Study Leave england.studyleave.nw@nhs.net
Out of Programme (OOP) information  
Less Than Full Time (LTFT) Training england.ltft.nw@nhs.net
Policies and Procedures  
Revalidation | Form R england.revalidation.nw@nhs.net
Leadership courses (Medical Leadership Fellowships, Postgraduate Module in Medical Leadership) england.facultydevelopment.nw@nhs.net
Education courses (PG Certificate in Workplace Based Postgraduate Medical Education Fellowship england.facultydevelopment.nw@nhs.net
Careers advice england.facultydevelopment.nw@nhs.net
Intra-LETB Transfer Policy for transferring between sectors within NHS England – North West  

Page last updated: 3 October 2025