Royal College of General Practitioners - Online Learning Environment

This is a recording of a live conference that took place on Friday 27 March 2026. This recording will be available to view until 13 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.

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. 

Sponsored by:

 

               

    

Over 2 million people in the UK live with sight loss, and this number is predicted to rise to nearly 4 million by 2050 as our population ages. With eye-related issues accounting for 4.5 million GP consultations annually, GPs are often on the frontline of detecting and managing ophthalmic conditions, yet many feel uncertain due to limited exposure during training.

This interactive, expert-led virtual course is designed to boost your confidence and competence in ophthalmology, helping you recognise red flags, manage common presentations, and make timely referrals. With access to eminent specialists, the day will cover key topics, from acute eye emergencies to chronic conditions, ensuring you leave with actionable skills to implement immediately in your practice.

This One Day Essentials conference will help you deliver better care with confidence. It is an opportunity to sharpen your skills, reduce uncertainty, and improve patient outcome, all in just one day.

 Learning objectives

• Develop a structured approach to assessing common and urgent eye conditions, reducing diagnostic uncertainty.
• Improve your ability to diagnose and manage frequently encountered presentations, including red eye, visual disturbances, and chronic eye disease.
• Gain a deeper understanding of key ophthalmology topics, from glaucoma and macular degeneration to neuro-ophthalmology emergencies.
• Enhance your confidence in recognising red flags that require urgent referral or intervention.
• Learn practical tips for effective patient communication, examination techniques, and when to involve specialists.

Topics

• Glaucoma
• Cataracts
• Macular degeneration
• Eye problems in paediatrics
• Diabetes in the eye
• Red eye
• Generic eyelid problems

Conference chair

Dr Waqaar Shah FRCGP, RCGP Clinical Expert in Eye Health

Bronze sponsor

Moorfields Private Eye Hospital sponsored this conference. Editorial and content decisions were made solely by the RCGP.