Clinical Attachments in Manchester and the North West: A Guide for IMG Doctors

Manchester and the wider North West have some of the biggest teaching hospitals in the country, a large IMG community and plenty of trust grade and clinical fellow jobs. That makes the region a good place for a clinical attachment, but there's no single Manchester scheme. Each Trust has its own rules, and some don't advertise attachments at all.

Quick answer: to get a clinical attachment in Manchester or the North West, check the Trusts that publish a route (Mersey and West Lancashire, Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh, Liverpool Heart and Chest, and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust's visiting professional programmes), then email consultants directly at Trusts that don't. Most attachments are observational, last one to twelve weeks, and need PLAB or English language evidence, a police check and occupational health clearance. Fees range from nothing to a few hundred pounds.

North West Trusts with a published route

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT)

• What: visiting professional programmes in a range of specialties across MFT's hospitals, including Manchester Royal Infirmary and Wythenshawe

• Also: the Manchester International Fellowship Scheme, a fixed-term training fellow route for doctors from outside the UK and EU. MFT is a GMC sponsoring body.

• How to apply: check MFT's careers and education pages for current programmes, fees and dates

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

• Requirements: registered in your home country; IELTS 7 in each part or PLAB; visa if non-EU; police check; occupational health; two references

• Fee: £130 for pre-placement checks (plus DBS for some UK residents)

• Length: up to 3 months

• How to apply: agree a placement with a consultant, then send an online request; allow 2 months

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals

• What: a Clinical Attachment Support Programme (CASP)

• Fee and length: a 2024 Freedom of Information response gave 4-week observer-only placements at £250, with an optional £75 workshop. Check current details with the Trust.

Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital

• What: clinical attachments in cardiothoracic specialties

• Fee and length: a 2024 Freedom of Information response gave one to four weeks, with no charge at the time

Other Liverpool options

Alder Hey Children's Hospital offers observerships and fellowships in paediatrics, and Mersey Care has a widening participation clinical attachment route in mental health.

Trusts without a published scheme

Many Greater Manchester and Lancashire Trusts don't publish an open clinical attachment route. That doesn't mean they never host them. Individual consultants often say yes to a well-written request. Use our consultant email templates, and copy in the medical education team.

Recent placement we arranged

We recently arranged a clinical attachment in a surgical department in Manchester for an international medical graduate from India. The Trust's name is kept confidential.

"Really professional. I was struggling. I had sent 200 emails to consultants and none of them got a response, but CareerPro helped me to arrange this attachment. Really thankful to them." Dr A., international medical graduate from India

Practical tips for the North West

• Accommodation: Trusts rarely provide it. Look for short lets near the hospital, and remember that Manchester city-centre rents are much higher than in Wigan, Bolton or St Helens.

• Visa: if you're coming from abroad, you'll usually need a standard visitor visa, which allows a clinical attachment.

• Timing: allow two to three months for checks, and plan the attachment between PLAB 2 and your job applications.

• Jobs afterwards: the North West advertises many trust grade and clinical fellow posts. See our guide to getting your first NHS job with no UK experience.

Want us to arrange it?

If you'd rather not send another hundred emails, our clinical attachment support service approaches hospitals for you and guides you through the checks. For Trusts across the UK, see our NHS clinical attachment directory, and our guides to London, the Midlands and Yorkshire.

Frequently asked questions

Does Manchester Royal Infirmary offer clinical attachments?

Manchester Royal Infirmary is part of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, which runs visiting professional programmes. Check MFT's website for current programmes, or contact a consultant in your specialty directly.

How much does a clinical attachment in the North West cost?

From nothing to a few hundred pounds, depending on the Trust, plus checks, travel and accommodation.

Do I need GMC registration?

Usually not. Most North West attachments are observational and ask for PLAB or English language evidence instead.

Is there a paid option in Manchester?

Clinical attachments are unpaid. Paid routes include trust grade and clinical fellow posts. MFT also runs an international fellowship scheme for doctors from outside the UK and EU. See paid clinical attachments: what actually exists.