8. The DDA 2026 Conference preview

The DDA Conference takes place on Weds 30 Sept and Thurs 1 October at the National Conference Centre in Birmingham. 

In this conference preview podcast, DDA Chief Executive Matt Isom speaks about this year's innovations, including our new dispenser breakout sessions, and the many benefits conference offers to the whole dispensary team. 

There's also a chance to test your own dispensing knowledge ahead of the one and only annual DDA conference prize quiz.

Referenced in the podcast are the following:
the DDA Conference booking portal
DDA Quality in Practice Guidance 2025-28
EMIS negotiations
Parliamentary Briefing Paper: Addressing the disparities
Welsh emergency dispensing
DDA Best Practice Facebook group (DDA members only)

Transcript

Speaker 0:00 Speaker 1 0:15 Speaker 0:18 Speaker 1 0:18

Um so welcome. I'm Elsa Cahun. I'm the DDA's communications officer, and today I'm speaking to Matt Isom, Chief Executive of the DDA, about our conference, which is rapidly approaching. It's on at the National Conference Center in Birmingham on Wednesday, September the 30th to Thursday, October the 1st. Registration free for DDA members is now open and places, free places for DDA members are filling fast. But before we start, I'm going to test you, our listeners, using some questions from our 2023 DDA conference quiz. This is always a highlight of our conference, so I wonder how well you would do. We'll give you the answers at the end. Okay, there are three questions. Question one Can you dispense to a non-dispensing patient? Question two, Harry Pitrazol, 30 milligram tablets, have a tariff price of £30.28. That's 2023 prices. Assuming no discount and taking into account clawback and VAT, but excluding the dispensing fee, will you make a profit or a loss if you dispense this drug? Question three. The drug tariff price of 2023 of Mirena is 88 pounds. Assuming I get no discount and taking into account clawback and VAT, will I make a profit or a loss if I dispense it? We'll give you the answers at the end. So back to the conference, Matt. We are the most well-established dispensing doctor contry, start again. We are the most well-established dispensing doctor conference. It's the 28th year, that's making us all feel a bit old, the 28th year of the DDA conference this year. And it's the only independent and one-stop shop for dispensing content. So what are the highlights for the 2026 year?

Speaker 2:38

Well, good morning, uh Elsa, and uh uh thank you for doing this podcast. 28 years, yes, that's more than I care to think about, to be frank. But but there we go, we're still going strong. This year we we've got a new innovation for the conference, and we're introducing breakout sessions and specific content for dispensers. So we're we we're we're aware of the fact that just keeping everything in the main hall may not be the most obvious solution for most people. So it may be that uh some sometimes the practice managers and the partners want to hear specific content in the main hall, but that the dispensers may want to do practical dispensing updates and information. And so we've created a separate strand um on the program, which people can see on the DDA website when I hope they will be registering. Please do so because you know the more the more we have, the better it becomes. So we've got this separate session uh coming through. There's some really good sessions, understanding the drug statement and how you're paid, MDS trades, workload and safety, and making a clear assessment, a good DQS DSQS audit and what it should contain, common drug errors and how to avoid them. Lots and lots of stuff there for people, I think, for and I hope that they'll find that really, really useful in addition to our traditional sort of content.

Speaker 1 3:54

And these are inspired by real questions that the office and the board members receive from our members using our advice service.

Speaker 4:03

They are indeed, which is why it's really important to keep using that. And uh, we're only as good as the information that we receive from our members. So it's a sort of secure process, if you like.

Speaker 1 4:13

And and on the main conference program, medico-political aspects are covered. We've got the CQC and Hub and Spoke presentations. These are quite big issues for dispensing practices at the moment.

Speaker 4:26

They are indeed. So it's a really timely opportunity to sort of discuss them in more detail. And in the case of CQC, actually discussing it with one of the inspectors who's responsible for medicine's management. And I think at this point, we should point out that our uh our guide, the our triennial guide that we published last year, the contents of that guide are seen by CQC and approved by them. So that uh if you were adhering to everything in that guide, you could you're in a good place uh for when the inspectors come a calling.

Speaker 1 4:55

And it's not just about the uh conference program, is it? I mean, the networking and access to the DDA board are also key features of the conference.

Speaker 5:05

Absolutely. And and we're there all the time for people just to come up to us and ask us questions and discuss anything that's of concern to us. We've got a stand that's immediately outside the front door to the conference, uh the main conference room, which is staffed all the way through the day by our wonderful office team led by Amanda Howard and um also our GP board members. And so, you know, anything, any questions that people have about any aspect of dispensing practice, they can put that to us and we'll do our very best to help you. And if we can't help you there and then, we'll do our very best to come back to you as as soon as we possibly can.

Speaker 1 5:39

And no question no question too large or too small.

Speaker 5:44

No, no question too large and too small. We've got a wide expertise of uh of uh of practice going back in some cases, over 40 years. So you you've got everything that you could ever want. It's an unrivalled networking opportunity for colleagues, and the event is very, very well established. So you're going to get some really quality conversations if you want them.

Speaker 1 6:02

Well, we might even have seen a change in the dispensing fee over those 40 years as well.

Speaker 6:07

Well, if with any luck, I mean the new dispensing fee will be sort of coming into view um around that time, and you never know if you are at the conference, you we might be able to tip you the wink uh on what you might be able to expect, taking care not to break any confidences. And of course, the other opportunity that you get during that networking process is the wonderful exhibition that we that we have. And and I should just emphasize that without the exhibition, which uh you know we use all the the money that we get for uh selling the exhibition stands, it's plowed into the conference and to the association itself. So the bigger the exhibition, the more wide-ranging the exhibition, the better experience we can put on for our members. At the moment, we've got 36 exhibitors, and those places are filling fast, ladies and gentlemen. So, you know, there's only a few places left. So please, if you want to exhibit, get in touch with us and we'll do our very best to help. Uh, and there's a wide range of exhibitors from sort of specialist farmer to individual organizations that deal specifically in dispensary profitability as consumables and everything that you need uh to run a very good and excellent dispensary for your practices and your patients.

Speaker 1 7:18

And importantly, because the DDA is independent, we can attract the widest range of exhibitors as well. There's no hidden arrangements with exhibitors that that staff that I'm gonna do that again. Okay. And as an independent organization, our exhibition is totally independent. So our guests can, our delegates can make sure that they see the widest range without any hidden agendas.

Speaker 7:48

Absolutely right. Yes. We don't endorse products uh specifically as we sort of put on our website uh elsewhere. So, you know, what you see is what you get. It's you know that they are paying just for the space, nothing else. It's down to you whether you avail yourself of the products and so on. We we we see that as a very, very important distinction in the way that we do things.

Speaker 1 8:11

Absolutely. So the AGM, always a highlight of the the DDA, is a chance for members, it's actually an important chance for members to catch up with the activities of the DDA during the year. And you know, it has been quite a busy year for us. What what would you consider our biggest successes from the year?

Speaker 8:30

Well, and as as we speak here on the 12th of May, Elsa, I think stopping EMIS and the NHS from charging practices who are on the EMIS system for using their dispensary module, I think those affect practices affected, or even those perhaps who aren't but have heard about this, we we got right on the blower to those in authority and said up with this we will not put. And as a consequence, I'm very happy to report if you've not already seen it on our website and to our Facebook group and all our other communications channels, that that plan has been scotched whilst the NHS and EMIS go back to the drawing board to decide what indeed they are going to be doing in the future or dispensary IT as far as EMIS practices are concerned. And I consider that one of the best things that we've done in quite a long time. We're also working very hard now with the different national GPC committees of the BMA. Uh for avid podcast listeners will have heard the most recent one that you did with Casey Brammel of GPC England and the chairs of the Scottish and Welsh GPCs, talking about the challenges that they face in in representing the whole of the profession, but specifically general practice and dispensing doctors. So I'll do that again.

Speaker 1 9:44

And their deputy chairs as well, the Welsh committee.

Speaker 9:48

And their deputy chairs.

Speaker 1 9:50

Yeah, sorry.

Speaker 9:51

So yeah, yes, uh, we we've been working with the individual national GPC committees. Those of you who are avid podcast listeners will have heard your most recent podcast with the chairs and their deputies of the GPC in England, the one in Wales, and the one in Scotland. We're working very closely with them. Obviously, they're they're national negotiators, so we're ensuring that dispensing practices and their challenges are being represented and met at the highest possible levels. We published a very successful briefing paper for parliamentarians in the various parliaments of the country. I hope they were certainly very useful, I think, in the most recent elections to Scotland and Wales, judging by the responses we've been getting from candidates. I'm not sure whether all of them were the successfully elected ones, but nonetheless it shows the penetration that we have in our political activities.

Speaker 1 10:44

Fantastic. And right, well, I completely lost my here we go. Um and how is the political situation for dispensing GPs changing? And how is the DDA changing in line with that?

Speaker 10:58

Well, there's there's a lot of political flux at the moment. We we've seen uh a change of administration in in Wales, and we see that as a very, very big opportunity for us to make some changes for Welsh colleagues who have been sort of, I think, sort of parked in a byway for for some time. Wonderful Welsh Representative Dr. Fiona Porter is now on the GPC Wales and has managed to get, even in the Senate's most recent health report, uh, specific references to dispensing and rural practice and uh commitments to negotiations on changes to the contract in Wales. Scotland is a bit trickier, as you as people would have discovered on the recent podcast, but the new Scottish administration, we will continue to lobby them. In England, I was about to say that you know we thought we were about to make some progress, but there's a bit of flux going on. We don't even know who the Prime Minister is going to be at the time of recording. So that may have some effect on how we're able to interact with the NHS. There's the ongoing sort of abolition of NHS England, which is compounding problems. But we we we at least now have representation and are being talked to in relation to the dispensing fee. So we've got a foot in the door, we've got the changes on EMIS. So we're we're working hard and we will continue to push for change. But I must stress, we need our members' help in that, and that's why coming to the conference and engaging with us and with your political representatives is really, really important.

Speaker 1 12:26

And our independence as an organization is crucial to that, that negotiators know that when they're dealing with us, they're not dealing with any sort of commercial faction. They're they're dealing with an organization that is wholly and completely on representing its members.

Speaker 12:43

Absolutely. We've been around now uh for over 25 years as DDA Limited. I mean, the association was founded actually in 1985, so almost 40 years actually, just specifically dealing with dispensing doctors. We don't make a profit. We're not, you know, all the money that we receive in subscription income and exhibitor income from the conference is plowed back into the association to representing dispensing doctors. And that is really important when we're sitting across the table from officials and any any uh sort of interest group, you know, that we we can say hand on heart, you know, we are not there to make uh money for ourselves. We're making it, we're there to represent dispensing practices and their patients. Uh and that I think is a really important point. So back to the And it also makes sense. Sorry, sorry, Elsa, and of course, the other the other point, of course, is that uh it enables us to make because we're not making a profit as a business, the exhibit income actually allows us to not charge our members for attending the conference. It's free to come. And that I think is a really key thing at this very difficult time economically for the country.

Speaker 1 13:52

Absolutely. So the conference, I mean, it's its speciality, it's USP, is that it we've got a whole range of political, commercial, and networking support for our members, and also non-members are welcome to come as well. But unfortunately, free places are not available for non-members. So join if you know about it. So join, please.

Speaker 14:15

Yes.

Speaker 1 14:16

So the conference is back at the National Conference Center in Birmingham on Wednesday, September the 30th, Thursday, October the 1st, and registration is free for DDA members, and that's now open. It's a great conference experience as well. I mean, PCC, professional organizers, they've got a dedicated department for us. It's a top quality venue, two days. So you've got a leisurely opportunity to find out everything you need to know, ask the questions you need to ask, great IT support, and of course, there are decent refreshments, excellent biscuits, and superb wine at the end.

Speaker 14:58

Yes, we've got a reception at 5 p.m. on Wednesday the 30th, and that's another great opportunity to uh liaise with us and network with your colleagues, share your ideas and thoughts, your concerns, get new ideas to go back to the practice with for the coming year. So, yes, and if you're a non-member, yeah, please join because you know there is strength in numbers.

Speaker 1 15:20

Absolutely. And of course, not forgetting the last uh session of our conference program and the highlight, I believe, of the DDA. Of the year is of course the DDA quiz. So back to those questions right at the beginning that come from our 2023 conference quiz. Question one can you dispense to a non-dispensing patient? Well, yes, you can, but you won't get reimbursed. I have to say, this is actually a piece of work that we're working on changing for emergency dispensing. And our Welsh chair is currently working on that. And I will put a link to that piece of work in the article that supports this podcast. Question two, Ari Piprazole, 30 milligram tablets, tariff price of 3028. Assuming no discount and taking into account clawback and VAT, but excluding the dispensing fee, will you make a profit or a loss if you dispense this drug? The answer is you'll make a loss. And question three the drug tariff price of Mirena is 88 pounds. Assuming I get no discount and taking into account clawback and VAT, will I make a profit or a loss if I dispense it? The answer is you will make a profit because it's personally administered and you will get that allowance. So there you are. How many of those did you get right? And if you got all three right, come to the quiz and show off in front of your friends. So, Matt, thank you very much for your time. We look forward to seeing our members and non members at the DDA conference.

Speaker 17:06

Thank you very much, Elsa. And yes, indeed, please register and palm. And if you want to exhibit, you can do that too.

Speaker 1 17:13

Thank you.

Speaker 17:14

Thank you.