New Starter FAQs
Your dedicated page for all new starter queries...
If you have any queries as you start you training programme, please check out our FAQs below where you will find many of the answers you are looking for.
Should you have any questions which are not answered in the dropdown menu below, please get in touch with the Helpdesk Team:
Call: 0151 478 7777
(Monday-Friday / 9am-5pm)
*Please include your specialty, region and GMC number in the title of your email along with a brief description of your query.
New Starter FAQs
Induction resources
- Where can I find the Induction Presentation and Welcome Booklet?
The Induction Presentation 2026 and Welcome Booklet 2026 are both available to download:
Annual leave
- How do I book annual leave?
Please familiarise yourself with your placement's annual leave procedure, and ensure that leave is booked in accordance with their process.
For further information, including annual leave calculators, see the relevant page for your programme:
• Resident doctors:
https://leademployer.merseywestlancs.nhs.uk/annual-leave-calculator-resident-doctor• Dental Foundation Trainees:
https://leademployer.merseywestlancs.nhs.uk/annual-leave-calculator-dental-foundation• Dental Core:
https://leademployer.merseywestlancs.nhs.uk/annual-leave-calculator-dental-core• Public Health:
https://leademployer.merseywestlancs.nhs.uk/annual-leave-calculator-public-health
Electronic Staff Record (ESR)
- What do I do if I haven't received my ESR access yet?
Email the ESR Helpdesk at ESR.Helpdesk@merseywestlancs.nhs.uk
In your email please confirm your:
- Full name
- Date of birth
- First four characters of your NI number
For more information see: https://leademployer.merseywestlancs.nhs.uk/colleague-in-training-self-service-on-esr
- What training do I need to upload to ESR?
Your host organisation is responsible for giving you protected time in the first four weeks of your placement to complete all statutory and mandatory training in line with the Core Skills Training Framework (CSTF).
Once you've completed a module, provide the evidence to your host organisation - they're responsible for updating your completed competencies on ESR. Your training compliance matrix and e-learning content are viewed by logging in to ESR; see the ESR e-Learning User Guide for full details.
For more information see: https://leademployer.merseywestlancs.nhs.uk/colleague-in-training-self-service-on-esr
- I've moved from placements - do I need a new ESR account?
This depends on whether both placements sit under the same Lead Employer - ESR access is tied to your employing organisation.
Contact ESR Helpdesk directly at ESR.Helpdesk@merseywestlancs.nhs.uk, and ask whether your existing account carries over or whether a new one is required, rather than assuming either way.
Payslip, payroll and pensions
- Where can I find information about my payslip and payroll queries?
See our payslip and payroll FAQs page: https://leademployer.merseywestlancs.nhs.uk/payroll-faqs
- Where can I find pay dates and submission deadlines?
See our pay dates and deadlines page: https://leademployer.merseywestlancs.nhs.uk/pay-dates-and-deadlines
- Where can I find information on tax and HMRC?
See our tax and HMRC page: https://leademployer.merseywestlancs.nhs.uk/tax--hmrc
- Where can I find information about my pension?
See our pensions page: https://leademployer.merseywestlancs.nhs.uk/your-rewards
NHS England queries
There are some things Lead Employer cannot assist with, and you will need to contact NHS England directly.
- What do I need to contact NHS England about?
- Annual Review of Competence Progression (ARCP)
- Educational supervisor details
- E-portfolio - Fourteen Fish
- Exam fees
- Form R
- General practice recharge payments for hosting resident doctors in training
- Indemnity assurance
- Less than full-time (LTFT) application/approval
- National Training Number (NTN)
- Out of programme application/approval
- Placement issues
- Placements
- Revalidation (GMC/GDC)
- Study leave
- Training queries
- Where can I find NHS England contact details for my region?
North West
Specialty training
Health Education North West - Specialty training
Call 0151 479 2700GP training
Health Education North West - GP training
Call 0161 268 9979
Email england.gptraining.nw@nhs.net (GP only)Public Health
Health Education North West - Public Health
Email england.publichealthnw@nhs.net
East Midlands
Health Education East Midlands
Call 0116 312 0671
Email esd.em@hee.nhs.uk
West Midlands
Health Education West Midlands
Call 0121 695 2494 / 0121 213 1966
Email england.pccprogrammes.midlands@nhs.net (for GP, Public Health or Dental training programmes only)
Secondary Care training programmes - england.secondarycareprogrammes.midlands@nhs.net
East of England
Health Education East of England
Email primarycare.eoe@hee.nhs.uk
Health Education East of England Public Health
Email england.phschool.eoe@nhs.net
Thames Valley and London
Health Education London and the South East Support Portal
Health Education Thames Valley
Call 0186 593 2000
Email england.enquiries.tv@nhs.net
Additional contacts
A full list of external contacts who may be best able to assist with your query are available on our website: https://leademployer.merseywestlancs.nhs.uk/useful-external-contacts-and-links