Royal College of General Practitioners - Online Learning Environment

Available until 20 November 2025.

 

The 29th Managing addictions in primary care conference took place on Thursday 16 and Friday 17 January 2025 in Manchester. 

This conference is the largest event in the UK for GPs, shared care workers, nurses and other primary care staff, specialists, commissioners and researchers interested in and involved with the Management of people with Addictions in Primary Care (MAPC). It is now in its 29th year with a loyal following but always attracts new faces from primary care. As usual, we will be covering important issues for the field including drug and alcohol problems including both a beginners guides as well as more specialist issues, managing harms from behavioural addictions such as pornography.  

With alcohol and drug related deaths still at an all time high, a harm reduction approach is paramount along with tackling stigma (so people don’t shy away from help).

We are really excited to go back on tour – yes we will be at an excellent iconic venue, The Lowry in the Quays area of Manchester, with plenty of room to make the best of workshops, interaction, networking and learning from each other. This includes showcasing great organisations such as Camerados, Fallen Angels Dance Theatre and The Spider Project, which have been ongoing for many years providing exceptional services for people in recovery from addiction.

 

Learning objectives: 

•    Increase understanding of current interventions for the prevention, assessment and treatment of alcohol and other drug problems

•    Increase understanding of what interventions are possible to deliver in Primary Care and what require specialist help

•    Increase knowledge of drug and alcohol policies in the UK and how they are implemented in primary care

•    Increase knowledge of links between multiple needs, health inequalities and drug and alcohol use

This is a recording of a live webinar that took place on 19 November 2024. This recording will be available to view until 19 May 2025.

Did you know:

•    1 in 3 UK adults are keen to read more books about how to manage their health and wellbeing? 
•    Research shows that readers report better overall health and wellbeing than non-readers?

Reading Well is an innovative national Books on Prescription programme that changes lives through reading. Delivered by The Reading Agency, Reading Well provides recommended reading to help people understand and manage their health and wellbeing. Books are chosen and endorsed by health professionals and people with lived experience. Over 3.8 million Reading Well books have been borrowed since 2013.

Learning objectives:

• Learn about the evidence behind reading and health
• Find out how Reading Well:
• Can support patients to better understand and manage their mental health and wellbeing, outside of a clinical setting
• Can be accessed by patients for free in your community
• Provides quality assured and evidence-based information
• Explore how to signpost patients to Reading Well

Webinar Chair & Speakers:

• Debbie Hicks MBE, Creative Director, The Reading Agency 
• Professor Martin Marshall CBE, Chair of the Nuffield Trust, Emeritus Professor of Healthcare Improvement at UCL, Former RCGP Chair of Council
• Dr Clare Etherington, GP and Educator
• Dr Radha Modgil, GP, Author, Columnist, TV & Radio Presenter
• Dr Carina Spaulding, Head of Research and Evaluation 
• Gemma Jolly, Head of Health and Wellbeing

Available until 26 May 2026.

 

Available until 1 April 2026.

Available until 23 March 2026.

Available until 2 December 2025.

This is a recording of a live conference that took place on 4 November 2025. This recording will be available to view until 20 August 2026.

Gastroenterology is one of the major medical specialties and accounts for 10% of all appointments in primary care. The British Society of Gastroenterologists (BSG) estimate that 90% of patients with gastrointestinal (GI) disorders are managed in primary care. 

The aims of this conference are to update delegates on the emerging issues, such as the new Faecal Immunochemical Test guidelines and the management of metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (the new name for NAFLD), as well as the more common presentations of GI conditions like dyspepsia, functional bowel disorders and iron deficiency anaemia. 

By the end of the day, you will have more confidence in investigating and managing patients presenting with GI and liver problems, which will improve patient care, result in less referrals to gastroenterology services and benefit service issues around the provision of endoscopy.

 

Learning objectives:

• How to manage patients with abnormal liver blood tests in primary care
• Provide updates on Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease 
• Provide updates on how to assess and manage patients presenting with lower and upper GI symptoms 
• Provide updates on neuroendocrine tumours 

Topics: 

• Liver disease 
• Gastroesophageal reflux
• Lower and upper GI symptoms
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Neuroendocrine tumours (NETS) 

Conference chair:

Dr Mark Follows, GPwER gastroenterology

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.

Available until 6 March 2026.

We encounter a wide range of skin conditions affecting patients across all age groups, and our goal is to ensure that our discussions address the full spectrum of cases seen in primary care dermatology. This programme has been carefully crafted with primary care professionals and busy GPs in mind. The conference will focus on key dermatological topics, including nail, genital, and skin disorders. Additionally, it will address common presentations, management and diagnosis relevant to general practice. 

• Approaching red and scaly scalps - A guide to GPs
• Managing Acne in primary care 
• A practical approach to common vulval dermatoses in primary care
• Impact of sun exposure on dermatological health in an ageing population 
• Paediatric rashes
• Nail changes - common nail issues
• Atopic Dermatitis

Learning objectives:

• Diagnose and initiate appropriate treatment for atopic eczema in adults and children
• Understand the role of dermoscopy in general practice
• Recognise and manage common vulval skin conditions
• Identify nail and scalp disorders commonly seen in general practice
• Improve confidence in referral decision-making
• Enhance the ability to diagnose, manage, and treat acne in primary care

Conference Chair:

Dr Pyal Patel, GPwER in Dermatology & Cosmetic Dermatology