This conference has been supported by the pharmaceutical industry.
For details of the sponsors, please see the bottom of page
Welcome to the 2026 DDA Conference
The 2026 conference took place Weds 30 September -Thurs 1 October, again at the National Conference Centre Birmingham B92 0EJ.
New this year were breakout sessions designed to support daily dispensing tasks. These include: understanding the drug statement, MDS trays, DSQS audit, common drug errors, VAT & PA and using the DM&D browser to support profitability.
First-time exhibitors included: AbbVie, A.Menarini Diagnostic, Avonnex, First Series, Neon Diagnostics, Northumbria Pharma, Pierre Fabre, RoboPharma, Safe Dispenser and Target Healthcare.
The programme has been developed to provide delegates with a great mix of both medico-political information as well as practical tips to enhance all aspects of dispensing. There were plenty of opportunities for dispensers, dispensary managers, practice managers, pharmacy technicians, pharmacists, and GPs to network with colleagues and seek one-to-one advice from the DDA Board.
Also part of the conference programme was the DDA interactive quiz with prizes including Amazon and M&S vouchers.
Over 330 of you attended each day in 2026, taking advantage of the extensive conference programme, exhibition hall (with 39 exhibitors - 10 of whom were first time this year), and the many networking opportunities.
The conference is always free of charge for DDA members and delegate packages include a light lunch, refreshments throughout the day, and our ever-popular drinks reception on the Wednesday evening.
Listen in to the DDA 2026 conference preview (May)
Listen in to the DDA 2026 conference preview 2 (August)
2027 Conference exhibition
Early bird discounts are available - book early to secure your 2027 place
Listen in to the DDA's conversations:
- Gold Exhibitor MediP
View the 2026 conference sponsorship options
The DDA would like to thank PCC Events for their support in organising the conference, and all speakers, sponsors, exhibitors and delegates who made the 2026 event such a success.
Please note that the DDA/PCC do not sell conference delegate/attendee information and that any offers to buy such lists are unauthorised and fraudulent. Please contact PCC if you have any further questions.
News from the 2026 conference is now available from the news portal on the right hand side of this page.
Remember! Conference delegate places are free for DDA members.
Not a member? Join now to send your whole team to the DDA conference for FREE - and access the full range of benefits offered year-round by the DDA.
08.30: Registration and Exhibition
09.30: Introduction and Welcome: Matthew Isom, DDA chief executive officer
09.30: The state of dispensing across the nations: DDA Chair Dr Richard West, DDA Scottish Representative Dr Hal Maxwell, and DDA Welsh Chair Dr Fiona Porter in conversation with DDA Communications Officer Ailsa Colquhoun. Audio recording
10.30: Sponsored Talk – Aspire Pharma
Aspire Pharma introduction, how we support dispensing doctors: Gayle Thompson, key account manager, Aspire Pharma
The Ease of Use and Financial Benefits of Staladex: Dr Reg Rehal, partner/ACP, West Horndon Surgery
11.00: Refreshments & Exhibition Break
11.30: EPS across the nations: DDA Vice Chair Dr Mike Barstow. Presentation slides. Audio
12.05: Controlling Controlled Drugs: Dr Stephanie White, GP partner, The Downland Practice. Presentation slides. Audio (from 35:30)
12.35: DDA AGM (read the papers): DDA CEO Matthew Isom
12.45: Lunch and Exhibition
13.45: How practices are paid. DDA Board Member Dr Raj Kanwar. Presentation slides. Audio
14.15: How the CQC will assess your dispensary: Dr Victoria Lea, deputy director of medicines optimisation and IR(ME)R, national controlled drugs lead, and Kuldeep Virdee, pharmacist specialist, Care Quality Commission. Audio (from 20:50)
15.05: Refreshments & Exhibition Break
15.35: Sponsored Talk - Dispex. How much is your dispensary losing, and what can you do about it? Dr Ankit Kant, GP and director of Dispex, and Kirstye Todd, lead training consultant, Dispex
16.10: MDS Trays: Workload vs Safety: How to make a clear assessment: DDA Dispensary Adviser Jacinta Edgar
Breakout session: Regulatory Round up: Charlotte Goodson, Advisor, Primary Care Commissioning CIC. Presentation. Audio
16.35: Safety - common drug errors, high risk drugs, lone workers, and more: DDA Board Member Dr Ben Burgess
17:00: Independent drinks reception
Important information: "Independent Drinks Reception and Social Quiz - these activities are independently organised and are separate from the pharmaceutical-sponsored programme. They are not sponsored, funded, organised, approved or endorsed by any pharmaceutical companies. Pharmaceutical companies sponsoring the conference have no involvement in the drinks reception, quiz or its prizes. Prizes are independently provided by non-pharmaceutical companies."
08.30: Registration and Exhibition
09.30: Introduction and Welcome: Matthew Isom, DDA chief executive officer
09.30: Improving Dispensary Submissions to the NHSBSA: NHSBSA Head of Pharmaceutical Services and Principal Pharmacist Phil Edwards and Business Engagement Lead Mark Gibbon.
10.15: Understanding PA and VAT: DDA Chair Dr Richard West
10.55: Refreshments & Exhibition Break
11.25: What makes a good DSQS Audit and what should it contain?: DDA Board Member Dr Hal Maxwell
Breakout session: What needs to change in the dispensing contract (England), why we are being overlooked and how you can help: DDA Board Member Dr David Jenner
12.00: Sponsored Talk – Cambrian Alliance. Protecting your dispensing margin: Nathan Wiltshire, CEO, and Ula Zelek-Zadlo, head of sales - South & Dispensing Doctors, Cambrian Alliance
12.30: Lunch & Exhibition Break
13.20: Sponsored Talk – Daiichi Sankyo. Improving lipid management in primary care: A quality improvement approach going beyond statins. Dr Ben Inglis, GP Partner, Wickham Surgery, Hampshire
This sponsored promotional session is organised and funded by Daiichi Sankyo UK and is for healthcare professionals in the UK only. Daiichi Sankyo products will be discussed at the meeting. Prescribing information and adverse event reporting information will be made available during the session or at the Daiichi Sankyo UK stand. Daiichi Sankyo UK has had no further input into the content, arrangements, or logistics of the rest of the conference. UK/BEM/06/26/0015. Date of Preparation July 2026.
13.50: Improving dispensary profitability - a case study: Suffolk LMC Chair Dr Ed Allen
14.30: Refreshments & Exhibition Break. The exhibition closes at 15:00
15:00: DM&D browser: Amendments, endorsements and negating financial loss: DDA Board Member Dr Fiona Porter
Breakout session: Building One Team for Neighbourhood Health - The opportunities and risks of INT working: DDA Board Member Mark Stone
15:45: DDA Quiz: Independent interactive quiz - with prizes! Do not miss this!
16:30: Conference close
Important information: "Independent Drinks Reception and Social Quiz - these activities are independently organised and are separate from the pharmaceutical-sponsored programme. They are not sponsored, funded, organised, approved or endorsed by any pharmaceutical companies. Pharmaceutical companies sponsoring the conference have no involvement in the drinks reception, quiz or its prizes. Prizes are independently provided by non-pharmaceutical companies."
Exhibition
First-time exhibitors for 2026 included: AbbVie, A.Menarini Diagnostic, Avonnex, First Series, Neon Diagnostics, Northumbria Pharma, Pierre Fabre, RoboPharma, Safe Dispenser and Target Healthcare.
Diamond exhibitors include: AAH, Aspire, Cambrian Alliance Group, Chiesi, Dispex and PSUK.
The exhibition hall attracted 39 exhibitors already attending covering areas such as medicines and devices, technology, wholesaling and services to support profitability.
To book the remaining exhibition space, email Abby Cheung
The following pharmaceutical companies have provided sponsorship towards this conference: AAH, Abbott Nutrition, AbbVie, Accord, AGB Pharma, Aspire Pharma, Cambrian Alliance, Chiesi, Cipla, CSL Seqirus, Daiichi Sankyo, Gedeon Richter, Glenmark, Kent Pharma, Northumbria Pharma, Orion Pharma, Pierre Fabre, Pfizer, PSUK, Recordati Pharmaceuticals, Renascience Pharma, Stada, Target Healthcare, VISUfarma and Zentiva.
However, the conference programme is independent and sponsors have had no involvement in its creation, organisation or any input into the educational component of the programme, apart from those declared.
The DDA thanks the exhibitors as this allows us to offer free delegate places to DDA member practices.
To exhibit and/or advertise to this exclusive audience, please contact Abby Cheung
