Understanding the New Event Healthcare Standards: What Event Organisers Need to Know

Published: June 2026

The way event healthcare is planned in England is evolving.

Following recommendations made by the Manchester Arena Inquiry, the UK Government, NHS England and healthcare professionals have been working together to develop a new Event Healthcare Standard alongside changes to the regulation of some event healthcare providers.

We’ve received a number of questions from organisers asking what these changes mean for their events. The good news is that, for most organisers, the principles of good event planning remain the same.

This article explains what is changing, what isn’t, and how Marches Ambulance Service is preparing.

Why are these changes happening?

The Manchester Arena Inquiry identified significant variation in the way healthcare was planned and delivered at events across England.

While many events already receive excellent medical provision, there has never been a single national standard setting out what organisers and healthcare providers should consider when planning event healthcare.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), working alongside NHS England and industry experts, has therefore developed the forthcoming Event Healthcare Standard, designed to improve consistency, strengthen public safety and support proportionate, risk-based planning.

Alongside this, the Government has confirmed changes to Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulations relating to certain healthcare providers delivering regulated clinical care at sporting and cultural events.

What is the Event Healthcare Standard?

The Event Healthcare Standard is intended to become the national reference document for planning healthcare at events.

Importantly, it is not a document that tells every organiser exactly how many clinicians or first aiders they must have.

Instead, it encourages organisers and healthcare providers to assess each event individually and determine what level of healthcare is appropriate based on the specific risks presented.

The draft Standard consistently promotes:

• proportionate, risk-based planning;
• documented Medical Needs Assessments;
• appropriate clinical governance;
• clear roles and responsibilities;
• safeguarding;
• effective communication and command arrangements;
• reducing avoidable impact on NHS services.

The Standard is expected to be published later this year as non-statutory guidance, with the Government evaluating its use before deciding whether it should eventually become statutory.

What has not changed?

One of the biggest misconceptions is that every event will now require large numbers of clinicians or ambulances.

This is not the case.

The developing guidance recognises that:

• every event is different;
• attendance alone does not determine medical need;
• many small, low-risk events will continue to require only appropriate first aid provision;
• higher-risk events may require more comprehensive healthcare planning.

The emphasis is on matching healthcare provision to the actual risks of the event, rather than applying a simple formula.

What about CQC registration?

Recent Government announcements regarding CQC regulation have understandably raised questions.

These changes relate primarily to healthcare providers delivering regulated clinical services, rather than event organisers themselves.

Event organisers do not need to become CQC registered simply because they are organising an event.

Organisers remain responsible for ensuring that appropriate medical provision is in place, while healthcare providers are responsible for complying with any regulatory requirements that apply to the services they deliver.

What does this mean for event organisers?

For most organisers, these developments reinforce good practice rather than introduce completely new requirements.

When planning an event, organisers should expect healthcare planning to consider factors such as:

• event type and activities;
• anticipated attendance;
• audience demographics;
• alcohol and drug risks;
• weather and environmental conditions;
• site layout and access;
• event duration;
• historical information from previous events;
• reasonably foreseeable medical presentations.

Increasingly, these considerations will be documented within a Medical Needs Assessment and, where appropriate, a Medical Management Plan.

This provides a clear rationale explaining why a particular level of medical provision has been recommended.

How is Marches Ambulance Service preparing?

Over the past year we have been reviewing and updating our own clinical governance and planning processes in anticipation of these national developments.

Our Medical Management Plans have been updated in line with the latest Purple Guide and incorporate many of the principles expected within the forthcoming Event Healthcare Standard, including:

• structured Medical Needs Assessments;
• risk-based staffing recommendations;
• robust clinical governance;
• safeguarding arrangements;
• NHS Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response (EPRR) principles;
• JESIP-aligned command and communication arrangements;
• contingency planning for major incidents.

This means that clients working with Marches Ambulance Service can be confident that their event medical planning already reflects current national best practice and is well positioned for future developments.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to change my event plans?

Not simply because of these announcements.

If your event already has appropriate medical planning based on recognised guidance, it is unlikely that immediate changes will be required.

We will continue to review each event individually and discuss any recommendations with organisers during the planning process.

Will this increase the cost of event medical cover?

Not necessarily.

The new approach does not require every event to increase medical provision. Instead, it encourages provision that is proportionate to the actual level of risk.

Some events may require more healthcare than previously provided, while others may not require any changes at all.

Will first aid still be acceptable?

Yes.

Many small, low-risk events will continue to be appropriately supported by first aid provision where this is justified by the event’s risk assessment.

Does attendance alone determine medical cover?

No.

Current national guidance consistently states that attendance is only one of many factors that should be considered when determining appropriate healthcare provision.

Looking ahead

The Event Healthcare Standard is expected to be published later this year.

As further information becomes available, we will continue to review our procedures and share updates with our clients.

Our aim remains unchanged: to provide safe, proportionate and evidence-based medical provision that supports event organisers, protects the public and minimises unnecessary impact on local NHS services.

If you are planning an event and would like to discuss your medical requirements, our team would be pleased to help.

Further Reading

• Department of Health and Social Care – Event Healthcare Standard
• The Purple Guide (January 2026)
• Care Quality Commission – Event Healthcare Regulation
• Manchester Arena Inquiry – Volume 2 Report

How Are Event Medical Providers Regulated in the UK?

CQC, Qualifications, Scope of Practice and Accountability Explained

Event organisers are increasingly expected to demonstrate not just that medical cover is in place, but that it is appropriate, governed and defensible.

One of the most common areas of confusion is regulation. Organisers are often told to ask whether a provider is “CQC registered”, to check qualifications such as paramedics or nurses, and to ensure someone is “checking” the people they are trusting with public safety.

This article explains, in plain terms, how event medical providers are regulated in the UK, what the Care Quality Commission (CQC) does and does not regulate, how clinical qualifications and scope of practice fit in, and where accountability actually sits.

For organisers trying to understand how event medical providers are regulated in the UK, this distinction between regulation, governance and accountability is critical.

How are event medical providers regulated in the UK and why governance matters

Public events are not workplaces, and they are not healthcare premises. They are complex, temporary environments where members of the public – often including children and vulnerable adults – may require medical assessment and treatment.

The Purple Guide to Health, Safety and Welfare at Music and Other Events (January 2026) makes clear that event organisers retain responsibility for ensuring that medical arrangements are:

• Appropriate to the level of risk
• Delivered by competent providers
• Properly governed and supervised

This means organisers cannot rely on assumptions, titles or marketing claims alone. They must understand what is regulated, what is not, and what alternative safeguards are in place.

These governance considerations sit alongside the wider principle that event medical provision should always be proportionate to risk. We’ve covered how this is assessed in more detail in our guide on how much medical cover does my event need.

What the CQC regulates – and what it does not

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the statutory regulator of health and social care services in England. Its role in relation to events is often misunderstood.

What the CQC does regulate

In the context of events, the CQC regulates:

• Patient transport services where patients are conveyed off site to hospital
• The associated clinical activity connected with that regulated activity

If an event medical provider is conveying patients to hospital as part of its service, that activity must be carried out by a provider registered with the CQC for the appropriate regulated activity.

What the CQC does not regulate

The CQC does not currently regulate:

• On-site assessment and treatment of illness or injury at events
• First aid services
• Temporary medical facilities that do not provide regulated activities

This distinction is explicitly acknowledged within UK event safety guidance. The absence of CQC regulation in these areas does not mean that activity is ungoverned or unsafe, but it does mean that organisers must look beyond CQC registration alone.

This is also why organisers should be cautious about assuming that basic workplace first aid arrangements are sufficient for public events. We’ve explored this distinction in more detail when looking at whether First Aid at Work is enough for events.

Why “CQC registered” is not the same as “appropriate for your event”

Being CQC registered confirms that a provider meets regulatory requirements for specific regulated activities. It does not, on its own, confirm that:

• The provider’s staff are suitable for event work
• The skill mix is appropriate for the risks identified
• There is adequate on-site clinical leadership
• The service is resilient if a vehicle or clinician is removed to convey a patient

The Purple Guide is clear that event medical provision must be risk-led and proportionate, not defined by registration status alone.

CQC registration should therefore be seen as one part of a wider governance picture, not a universal assurance mark.

Protected titles and unprotected titles at events

Another area of confusion is staff titles.

Some professional titles are legally protected, including:

• Doctor (registered with the General Medical Council)
• Paramedic (registered with the Health and Care Professions Council)
• Registered Nurse (registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council)

Other titles commonly used at events – such as “medic” or “responder” – are not protected and do not, by themselves, indicate a particular level of qualification or competence.

The Purple Guide advises organisers to be cautious of unprotected titles and to seek clarity on:

• Actual qualifications held
• Scope of practice
• Supervision and governance arrangements

Paramedics at events – autonomy and limitations

Paramedics are registered healthcare professionals and play a vital role in event medical care. However, there is often misunderstanding about what paramedics can and cannot do autonomously at events.

A paramedic’s scope of practice is determined not simply by registration, but by:

• Education and training
• Experience and competence
• Prescribing status
• The clinical governance framework they are working within

Being a paramedic does not automatically mean unlimited authority or independence. Like all clinicians, paramedics must work within defined scope and governance arrangements, with clear escalation and clinical leadership.

This is why the Purple Guide places greater emphasis on competence, supervision and skill mix than on job titles alone.

If not CQC, then who is actually checking your provider?

A common and entirely reasonable question from organisers is:

“If CQC doesn’t regulate everything, who is actually checking the people we are trusting?”

In practice, assurance comes from clinical governance, not a single external regulator.

Organisers should expect event medical providers to be able to demonstrate:

• Named clinical leadership
• Defined governance structures
• Clear scope-of-practice controls
• Appropriate supervision of junior staff
• Incident reporting and learning processes
• Audit and quality assurance
• Appropriate insurance and indemnity

Good providers welcome these questions and can explain their governance clearly.

What organisers should actually check

When appointing an event medical provider, organisers should look beyond labels and ask practical, defensible questions, including:

• What activities are regulated, and by whom?
• Is patient transport provided, and if so, is it CQC registered?
• Who is the named clinical lead for the event?
• How are staff qualifications and competence assured?
• How is supervision provided on site?
• What happens if a patient needs to be conveyed to hospital?
• Will on-site medical cover remain safe and sufficient if resources leave site?

These questions align directly with organiser responsibilities set out in UK event safety guidance.

A calm conclusion for organisers

Regulation of event medical providers is not binary. It is not a simple case of “CQC registered” or “not regulated”.

Instead, organisers are expected to understand:

• What regulation applies to which activities
• Where statutory regulation ends
• What governance arrangements sit in its place

This is not about gold-plating or over-medicalising events. It is about making proportionate, defensible decisions that protect attendees, organisers and the wider healthcare system.

Understanding how event medical providers are regulated in the UK allows organisers to ask better questions, make proportionate decisions and demonstrate due diligence.

Looking ahead

There are planned changes to healthcare regulation expected to take effect from April 2026. These do not alter current requirements but may affect how some event medical services are regulated in future. We’ve summarised the key medical-related updates in the Purple Guide 2026 changes separately.