Royal College of General Practitioners - Online Learning Environment

This is a recording of a live conference that took place on Thursday 26 March 2026. This recording will be available to view until 11 December 2026.

The 30th Managing addictions in primary care conference took place on Thursday 26 and Friday 27 March 2026 in Liverpool. 

Join us and celebrate our 30th anniversary as we bring together pre-eminent experts in the field of substance and behavioural addiction, and offer you the opportunity to listen, learn and network with more than 300 healthcare professionals across the field.

From beginner guides to specialist advice, personal accounts to big picture thinking, - our plenaries and workshops offer something for everyone with an interest in addiction services.   

This conference will reflect on the challenges and improvements over the past thirty years and look forward at how we can improve medicine and support for patients and service users. The programme covers a range of topics both specialised and holistic, and has evolved with the ever-changing addiction care landscape. Alcohol and drug related deaths are at an all-time high in the UK*. This is why harm-reduction, tackling the stigma around addiction to encourage more people to seek help, and understanding how health inequalities impact additions are central focuses this year.   

The standard of the presentations this year was exceptionally high and [] I learned a great deal of new information plus talking points to make me think. Good for networking too. 2025 conference attendee, specialist in addiction psychiatry, Wales, UK

Who attends

All primary care workers including GPs, shared care workers, nurses, specialists, commissioners and researchers. This year we're encouraging medical students to join in.

Increase your knowledge and understanding of:

• Current interventions for the prevention, assessment and treatment of alcohol, other drug problems and behavioural addictions. 
• The requirement for both primary care and specialist interventions, and when to use them.
• Drug and alcohol policies in the UK and how they are implemented in primary care.
• Links between multiple needs, health inequalities and substance misuse.
• The challenges, improvements and primary care work in this area over the last 30 years. 

             

Funded by:

This webinar was funded by Sandoz UK. Sandoz were asked to suggest speakers and topics however, full editorial control remains the sole responsibility of the RCGP. 

Available until 12 May 2026.

Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions account for up to 30% of general practitioner consultations, representing a substantial clinical workload and a significant societal burden. MSK problems often persist longer than many other conditions, leading to reduced quality of life and wider socioeconomic impact. GPs are pivotal in early recognition, accurate diagnosis, effective management, and preventive care for MSK presentations, helping to minimise disability and support long-term health and wellbeing.

This One Day Essentials conference equips primary care professionals with practical, evidence-based skills to confidently assess and manage MSK conditions in a time-pressured GP setting. Delegates will gain up-to-date knowledge on management of musculoskeletal conditions across the ages, prevention strategies, and the role of physical activity as both a therapeutic and preventive intervention.

Learning Objectives:

• Strengthen diagnostic confidence by recognising common and important MSK presentations, distinguishing mechanical, inflammatory, and systemic causes, and applying effective history-taking and examination techniques in primary care.
• Improve examination skills for MSK conditions 
• Enhance management strategies in MSK conditions seen in primary care
• Optimise patient outcomes through practical approaches to patient education, self-management support, safe physical activity promotion

Topics include:

• Gout
• Physical activity
• Chronic pain
• Paediatric rheumatology
• Osteoporosis
• Back and hip
• Shoulder and knee

Conference Chair:

Dr Jean Wong MRCGP, GP and RCGP eLearning fellow

Primary care sports medicine focuses extensively on the diagnosis, management and treatment of musculoskeletal injuries and disorders. It encompasses a wide range of disciplines and practices aimed at promoting the health and fitness of athletes and physically active individuals. Understanding sports medicine enables GPs to provide comprehensive care for patients of all ages and activity levels, addressing not just general health but also physical activity-related issues. Join us for a full day of practical and interactive discussion exploring common sports medicine presentations in general practice, and some introductions on how to become involved in this exciting specialty.

Topics include:

• Rheumatology in sports medicine 
• Women's health in sports medicine: pregnancy, postpartum & perimenopause
• Concussion
• Cardiology in sports
• Psychological consideration in rehabilitation in sports and exercise medicine
• Foot and ankle injuries
• Careers in sports medicine panel discussion 

Learning objectives:

• Increase delegates’ knowledge on identifying and managing various sporting injuries and medical conditions amongst the physically active population.
• Gain an appreciation of sex-specific considerations in injury risk, rehabilitation, and exercise physiology.
• Recognise the psychological factors affecting recovery from sports injuries.
• Identify training and career pathways to develop a special interest in SEM alongside general practice.

Conference Chair:

Dr Sarah Dyche, Salaried GP at Rosedale Surgery, ECCH GP Associate