01568 605110 hello@marchesambulance.co.uk

Uncategorised

Posted on
When you’re hiring a CQC registered event medical provider, you’ll likely see that credential highlighted prominently in their marketing. And if you’re like most event organisers, you’ll tick that box and move on.
Here’s the problem: not all CQC registered event medical providers are the same.
In fact, there are two completely different types of CQC registration for medical providers—and the difference between them could leave you exposed to serious liability if something goes wrong at your event.
Let’s break down what you actually need to know.

Here’s the problem: not all CQC registered event medical providers are the same.

In fact, there are two completely different types of CQC registration for medical providers—and the difference between them could leave you exposed to serious liability if something goes wrong at your event.

Let’s break down what you actually need to know.

When you’re comparing quotes for event medical cover, you’ll likely see “CQC registered” mentioned prominently. And if you’re like most event organisers, you’ll tick that box and move on.

Here’s the problem: not all CQC registrations are the same.

In fact, there are two completely different types of CQC registration for medical providers—and the difference between them could leave you exposed to serious liability if something goes wrong at your event.

Let’s break down what you actually need to know.

The Two Types of CQC Registration (And Why It Matters)

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates health and social care services in England. For event medical providers, there are two relevant registration categories:

1. Transport Services Only (Patient Transport)

This registration allows a provider to:

  • Transport patients from A to B
  • Provide basic care during transport
  • Operate non-emergency patient transport services

What it does NOT allow:

  • Diagnosis of medical conditions
  • Treatment beyond basic first aid
  • Administration of prescription medications
  • Use of Patient Group Directions (PGDs)
  • Clinical decision-making under a Medical Director

Think of this as a taxi service with some medical training, perfectly fine for moving stable patients, but not equipped or legally permitted to provide advanced clinical care.

2. Treatment of Disease, Disorder and Injury (TDDi)

This registration allows a provider to:

  • Diagnose and treat medical conditions
  • Administer prescription medications (via PGDs)
  • Provide advanced clinical interventions
  • Operate under the guidance of a Medical Director
  • Make complex clinical decisions on-site

This is what you need when you’re expecting paramedics to actually treat patients at your event, not just transport them.

When you’re comparing quotes for event medical cover, you’ll likely see “CQC registered” mentioned prominently. And if you’re like most event organisers, you’ll tick that box and move on.

Here’s the problem: not all CQC registered event medical providers are the same.

In fact, there are two completely different types of CQC registration for medical providers—and the difference between them could leave you exposed to serious liability if something goes wrong at your event.

Let’s break down what you actually need to know.

Why Most Event Organisers Don’t Know the Difference

Here’s the truth: most event organisers have no idea there are different types of CQC registration.

When you see “CQC registered” on a quote, you assume it means the provider can do everything a paramedic should be able to do. That’s a reasonable assumption—but it’s often wrong.

We’ve seen providers in our region operating with Transport registration only, yet deploying paramedics with ambulances stocked with medications and equipment that fall squarely within the scope of Treatment of Disease, Disorder and Injury.

Is this legal? No. The CQC has confirmed this constitutes a Section 10 offence under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

Does it happen anyway? Yes. And event organisers are often none the wiser.

What This Means for Your Paramedics On-Site

Let’s get practical. If your medical provider only holds Transport registration, here’s what your “event paramedic” cannot legally do:

They Can’t Administer Key Medications

  • Ipratropium for severe asthma / COPD attacks
  • Diazepam / Midazolam for prolonged seizures
  • Tranexamic acid for major trauma

Without TDDi registration, paramedics cannot work under Patient Group Directions (PGDs)—the legal framework that allows them to administer prescription medications without a doctor present.

We’ve covered this in detail here, but the bottom line is: without PGDs, your paramedic’s hands are tied in a real emergency.

They Can’t Operate Under Clinical Governance

Treatment of Disease, Disorder and Injury registration requires:

  • A registered Medical Director overseeing clinical practice
  • Approved clinical protocols and guidelines
  • Ongoing clinical supervision and case review
  • Professional indemnity insurance that covers clinical decision-making

Transport-only providers don’t have these structures in place—because they’re not required to. But that means there’s no clinical oversight of the care being delivered at your event.

The Insurance Problem Nobody Talks About

Here’s where this gets serious for you as an event organiser.

If a medical provider is operating outside the scope of their CQC registration, their professional indemnity insurance is unlikely to pay out in the event of a claim.

Let’s say someone has a severe asthma attack at your event. Your provider’s paramedic administers Ipratropium, but the provider only holds Transport registration and has no PGDs in place. The patient has an adverse reaction and sues.

The provider’s insurance refuses to cover the claim because the paramedic was working outside the legal scope of the provider’s registration.

Guess who could be left holding the liability?

You.

As the event organiser, you have a duty of care to provide adequate medical cover. If your provider wasn’t legally permitted to deliver the level of care you (and your attendees) expected, that duty of care hasn’t been met, and you could be personally liable.

How to Check Your CQC registered event medical provider’s Registration

The good news? This is easy to verify.

  1. Ask your CQC registered event medical provider directly: “What type of CQC registration do you hold, Transport Services or Treatment of Disease, Disorder and Injury?”
  2. Check the CQC website: Go to www.cqc.org.uk and search for the provider by name. Their registration details are publicly available.
  3. Look at the “Regulated Activities” section: This will list exactly what they’re registered to do.

If you see only “Transport services, triage and medical advice provided remotely” listed, they do not hold Treatment of Disease, Disorder and Injury registration

Why Do Providers Operate Outside Their Registration?

Honestly? Because they can get away with it……….until they can’t.

Operating with Transport-only registration is cheaper and easier:

  • No Medical Director required
  • No PGDs to develop and maintain
  • Less rigorous clinical governance
  • Lower insurance premiums

This allows some providers to undercut on price while appearing to offer the same service.

But when something goes wrong, the cracks show and you’re the one left exposed.

We’ve reported this issue to local Safety Advisory Groups (SAGs), and the response has been frustrating: “Our expert advisors [the ambulance service] say it’s fine.”

But the CQC disagrees. And ultimately, the CQC is the regulator that matters.

Why Do CQC registered event medical providers Operate Outside Their Registration?

Honestly? Because they can get away with it—until they can’t.

Operating with Transport-only registration is cheaper and easier:

  • No Medical Director required
  • No PGDs to develop and maintain
  • Less rigorous clinical governance
  • Lower insurance premiums

This allows some providers to undercut on price while appearing to offer the same service.

But when something goes wrong, the cracks show—and you’re the one left exposed.

We’ve reported this issue to local Safety Advisory Groups (SAGs), and the response has been frustrating: “Our expert advisors [the ambulance service] say it’s fine.”

But the CQC disagrees. And ultimately, the CQC is the regulator that matters.

What You Should Expect from a Properly CQC registered event medical provider

If you’re paying for paramedics and ambulances at your event, you should expect:

✅ Treatment of Disease, Disorder and Injury registration (not just Transport)

✅ A named Medical Director overseeing clinical practice

✅ Patient Group Directions (PGDs) in place for common emergency medications

✅ Clinical governance structures including case review and ongoing supervision

✅ Professional indemnity insurance that covers clinical decision-making

Anything less, and you’re not getting what you’re paying for—and you’re potentially exposing yourself to liability.

The Regulatory Landscape Is Changing

Here’s something else to consider: within the next 12–24 months, CQC regulation is expected to extend to all temporary, cultural, and sporting event venues.

Right now, CQC registration for event medical providers is best practice, but it’s not always legally required (depending on the event type and scale).

That’s about to change.

When the new regulations come into force, venues and event organisers will be required to use CQC-registered providers. And you can bet the CQC will be looking closely at what type of registration those providers hold.

Getting ahead of this now means you’re not scrambling later, and you’re building relationships with providers who are already compliant.

Our Point of View: Why This Matters

We’re not saying this to scare you, we’re saying it because we’ve seen what happens when event organisers don’t know to ask these questions.

You’re comparing quotes. One provider is significantly cheaper. Both say they’re “CQC registered.” On paper, they look the same.

But one holds Transport registration and is operating outside their legal scope. The other holds Treatment of Disease, Disorder and Injury registration, employs a Medical Director, and has full clinical governance in place.

Which one do you want on-site when someone stops breathing?

The price difference suddenly makes sense, but the risk difference is enormous.

Our Point of View: Why This Matters

We’re not saying this to scare you—we’re saying it because we’ve seen what happens when event organisers don’t know to ask these questions.

You’re comparing quotes. One provider is significantly cheaper. Both say they’re “CQC registered.” On paper, they look the same.

But one holds Transport registration and is operating outside their legal scope. The other holds Treatment of Disease, Disorder and Injury registration, employs a Medical Director, and has full clinical governance in place.

Which one do you want on-site when someone stops breathing?

The price difference suddenly makes sense—but the risk difference is enormous.

What to Do Next

If you’re currently working with an event medical provider, check their CQC registration today.

If you’re comparing quotes, ask every provider what type of CQC registration they hold and verify it on the CQC website.

And if you’re planning an event and want to make sure you’re covered properly (legally, clinically, and from a liability perspective), we’re happy to talk through your specific needs.

📧 Email us: hello@marchesambulance.co.uk 📞 Call us: 01568 605110

We’re not the cheapest option, but we’re the option that won’t leave you exposed when it matters most.

Further Reading

About Marches Ambulance Service

We’re a CQC-registered independent ambulance service (Treatment of Disease, Disorder and Injury) based in Herefordshire, providing event medical cover across the Midlands and beyond. We operate under the clinical governance of our Medical Director, with all paramedics working under approved Patient Group Directions. No subcontractors, no surprises, just professional, compliant medical cover you can trust.

Posted on
It’s 2:30 pm on Saturday. Your event is going brilliantly. The sun’s out, the crowds are happy, everything’s running smoothly.
Then someone collapses. They’re having a seizure. You’re facing an event medical emergency.
What happens next depends entirely on the type of event medical cover you’ve booked.
Let’s walk through two versions of this event medical emergency. Same scenario. Same seizure. But two very different outcomes.

The Event Medical Emergency: A Seizure Scenario

You’re running a local rugby tournament. 500 competitors, 2,000 spectators. A 28-year-old player comes off the pitch after a tackle. He seems fine initially, then suddenly collapses and starts having a seizure.
His teammates are panicking. Parents are watching. Your event medical team rushes over.
Now let’s see what happens with two different types of event medical cover when someone has a seizure at your event.

Version 1: The Self-Employed Paramedic (No CQC Registration)

Minute 1: The Response

Your event medical cover arrives quickly. It’s a single paramedic you found through a Facebook group. He’s experienced, professional, and knows what he’s doing clinically.
He assesses the situation. Classic tonic-clonic seizure. The player is convulsing, unresponsive, at risk of injury.

Minute 2: The Protocol

The paramedic knows the protocol for a seizure at an event:
  • Protect the patient from injury
  • Time the seizure
  • Prepare to manage the airway if needed
  • If the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, administer emergency medication
He does everything right for the first four steps. He clears the area, cushions the player’s head, times the seizure, and monitors his airway.

Minute 5: The Problem

The seizure hasn’t stopped. It’s been five minutes now. NICE guidelines are clear: this event medical emergency now requires immediate medication.
This is now status epilepticus—a life-threatening emergency. The risk of permanent brain damage increases with every passing minute. The risk of death is significant.
The player needs buccal midazolam or rectal diazepam to stop the seizure. Now.
Your paramedic knows this. He’s administered it dozens of times in his NHS career. He knows exactly what to do.
But he doesn’t have it.
Why? Because he’s self-employed, not working under a CQC-registered organisation. He can’t access Patient Group Directions (PGDs). He can’t legally purchase or carry these medications.

Minute 6: The Wait Begins

The paramedic calls 999. He’s calm but urgent. The call handler recognises this immediately: Category 1 emergency—the most life-threatening classification there is.
An ambulance is available. It’s dispatched immediately, blue lights and sirens.
Estimated arrival time: 20 minutes.
Not because there’s a major incident. Not because resources are stretched. Simply because your rugby club is rural, and the ambulance has to physically travel from the nearest station.
Yes, they’re using blue lights and sirens. Yes, they’re going as fast as safely possible. But lights and sirens only reduce journey time by about 10%. Physics doesn’t care about emergencies. The ambulance still has to cover 15 miles of country roads.
Twenty minutes. For a condition where every minute counts.

Minute 7-25: The Deterioration

The seizure continues. Your paramedic is doing everything within his capability:
  • Managing the airway
  • Administering high-flow oxygen
  • Monitoring vital signs
  • Positioning to prevent aspiration
  • Constant reassurance to the family (though the player can’t hear him)
But without the medication to stop the seizure, he’s fighting a losing battle.
And now there’s another problem: oxygen.
The standard portable oxygen cylinder he’s carrying has about 30 minutes of high-flow oxygen. He’s already used 7 minutes. If the ambulance doesn’t arrive soon, he’ll run out. Then what? Does he reduce the oxygen flow to make it last longer, compromising the patient’s care? Does he switch to his backup cylinder (if he even has one), knowing that won’t last either?
The risks are mounting with every minute:
  • Brain damage: After 5 minutes of continuous seizure activity, neurons begin to die
  • Hypoxia: Despite oxygen therapy, prolonged seizure activity affects oxygen delivery to the brain
  • Aspiration: Risk of vomiting and inhaling stomach contents
  • Cardiac complications: The physical strain of prolonged seizure activity
  • Rhabdomyolysis: Muscle breakdown from continuous convulsions
  • Hyperthermia: Body temperature rising dangerously
  • Death: Status epilepticus has a mortality rate of 10-20%, even with treatment
The crowd is watching. Parents are filming on phones. The player’s family is distraught, asking “Why can’t you give him something? Why can’t you stop it?”
Your paramedic has to explain: “I can’t. I don’t have the medication. The ambulance is coming.”
At minute 20, he’s watching his oxygen gauge drop. He’s making impossible calculations: reduce the flow now to make it last, or keep it high and hope the ambulance arrives in the next 10 minutes?
Your event has stopped. Everyone’s focused on this one terrifying scene. A young man having a seizure on the ground for over 20 minutes while everyone waits, and the medical team is running out of oxygen.

Minute 26: The NHS Ambulance Arrives

Finally—finally—the NHS ambulance arrives. They’ve driven as fast as safely possible, but they can’t teleport.
They administer buccal midazolam immediately. Within two minutes, the seizure stops.
The player has been seizing for over 25 minutes. He’s post-ictal, deeply unconscious, and needs immediate hospital care. There’s a real possibility of permanent neurological damage. The next 24-48 hours will be critical.
He’s blue-lighted to hospital, where he’ll spend days in intensive care.

The Aftermath

  • Your event was disrupted for over 40 minutes
  • The incident is all over social media within the hour: “Player has seizure for 25 minutes at rugby tournament—why couldn’t they stop it?”
  • The player’s family is asking hard questions: “Why didn’t your medical team have the medication? Why did we have to wait so long?”
  • Your insurance company is asking even harder questions about your event medical cover
  • Local news picks up the story: “Life-threatening delay at rugby tournament raises questions about event medical standards”
  • The player survives, but with potential long-term neurological effects from the prolonged seizure
  • Other events start asking: “Should we still book them? What if this happens at our event?”
  • You’re facing potential legal action from the player’s family
Your paramedic did everything he could within his limitations. He was professional, competent, and caring. But those limitations—the inability to access the medication that could have stopped the seizure at 5 minutes instead of 25 minutes—had potentially life-changing consequences.
This wasn’t about skill. This was about systems, governance, and legal authority to carry the medications that save lives.

Version 2: The CQC-Registered Event Medical Provider

Let’s rewind. Same event medical emergency, but this time you’ve booked a CQC-registered event medical provider like Marches Ambulance Service.

Minute 1: The Response

Your event medical team arrives quickly. It’s a paramedic working under full clinical governance, with access to comprehensive equipment and medications.
She assesses the situation. Classic tonic-clonic seizure at an event. She knows exactly what to do.

Minute 2: The Protocol

Same initial steps for managing a seizure at an event:
  • Protect the patient from injury
  • Time the seizure
  • Monitor airway and breathing
  • Prepare medications in case the seizure doesn’t stop
But this time, there’s a crucial difference: she has the medications ready.
She’s already drawn up buccal midazolam, checking the dose, preparing for administration if the seizure reaches 5 minutes.

Minute 5: The Intervention

The seizure hasn’t stopped. It’s been five minutes. This is now status epilepticus—a life-threatening emergency.
No waiting. No calling 999. No hoping an ambulance arrives in time.
The paramedic administers buccal midazolam immediately, under her organisation’s Patient Group Direction. It’s legal, it’s appropriate, and it’s exactly what the clinical guidelines recommend.
Treatment time from seizure onset: 5 minutes.

Minute 7: The Resolution

The seizure stops. The medication has worked.
The player is post-ictal (drowsy and confused, which is normal after a seizure) but his airway is clear, he’s breathing well, and the seizure has stopped.
Total seizure duration: 7 minutes. Brain damage risk: minimised. Life-threatening emergency: resolved.
The paramedic continues monitoring. She checks his vital signs, ensures he’s recovering appropriately, and makes a clinical decision about whether he needs hospital transport.

Minute 15: The Clinical Decision

The player is now alert enough to talk. The paramedic takes a full history:
  • Does he have epilepsy? (No, first seizure)
  • Any head injury during the game? (Yes, significant tackle just before)
  • Any other medical history? (None)
Given it’s his first seizure and it followed a head impact, he needs hospital assessment. Your event medical provider has a CQC-registered ambulance on-site. They can transport him directly, with full clinical care en route, monitoring for any complications.
No waiting for 999. No tying up NHS resources. No 20-minute wait for an ambulance to travel from the nearest station. Seamless, professional care from start to finish.

Minute 30: Back to Normal

The player is safely on his way to hospital with his family. Your event medical team has cleared the scene, reassured spectators, and your tournament continues.
The player will be thoroughly assessed at hospital, but because the seizure was stopped quickly, his prognosis is good.

The Aftermath

  • Total disruption time: 15 minutes
  • The player received life-saving medication within 5 minutes of the emergency threshold
  • His family is grateful: “Thank God they had what they needed. They saved him.”
  • Your insurance company is satisfied you had proper, CQC-registered medical cover
  • Social media comments praise your event’s rapid, professional medical response
  • Other organisers ask: “Who did you use for medical cover? We want the same level of care.”
  • The player makes a full recovery with no neurological damage
Same emergency. Same initial presentation. The difference? 20 minutes of life-threatening seizure activity versus immediate, appropriate treatment.
That difference could be the difference between full recovery and permanent brain damage. Between life and death.

Why This Difference Matters for Event Medical Emergencies

The difference between these two scenarios isn’t about the skill or experience of the individual clinician. Both paramedics knew what to do. Both were competent, professional, and trying their best.
The difference is about systems, governance, and legal authority.

What the CQC-Registered Event Medical Provider Had:

  • Patient Group Directions – Legal authority to supply and administer emergency medications for seizures
  • Proper medication stock – Buccal midazolam legally sourced, correctly stored, readily available
  • Clinical governance – Protocols, oversight, and accountability
  • Comprehensive equipment – Everything needed for emergency care including adequate oxygen supplies
  • Transport capability – CQC-registered ambulance for direct hospital transfer
  • Insurance – Full cover for all clinical interventions
  • Accountability – Regulated, inspected, and held to standards

What the Self-Employed Paramedic Didn’t Have:

  • No PGDs – Couldn’t legally carry the seizure medications
  • No medication stock – Even if he wanted to, he couldn’t purchase them legally
  • No clinical governance – Working alone without organisational support
  • Limited equipment – Only what he could personally afford and transport
  • Limited oxygen – Standard cylinder running out during prolonged emergency
  • No transport capability – Had to wait for NHS ambulance
  • Questionable insurance – May not cover all scenarios
  • No accountability – No regulatory oversight
The patient paid the price for that difference.

This Isn’t Just About Seizures at Events

Seizures are just one example. The same event medical emergency pattern plays out with other conditions:

Severe Asthma Attacks

  • Without PGDs: Can’t administer nebulised salbutamol or ipratropium bromide. Wait for NHS ambulance while the patient struggles to breathe.
  • With PGDs: Immediate nebuliser therapy, patient improves within minutes.

Anaphylaxis

  • Without proper cover: May have one EpiPen, but what if the patient needs a second dose? What about IV fluids, antihistamines, steroids?
  • With proper cover: Full anaphylaxis protocol, multiple medication options, comprehensive treatment.

Major Trauma with Bleeding

  • Without PGDs: Can’t administer Tranexamic Acid (TXA), which reduces mortality by up to 30% when given early.
  • With PGDs: TXA administered immediately, bleeding controlled, better outcomes.

Cardiac Chest Pain

  • Without proper medication access: Can’t give GTN spray (purchasing problem), limited pain relief options.
  • With proper cover: Full cardiac protocol, appropriate medications, ECG monitoring, direct hospital transfer.
Every emergency has the same pattern: proper event medical cover makes the difference between immediate, appropriate treatment and waiting while the situation deteriorates.

“But Seizures at Events Are Rare, Right?”

You might be thinking: “This is an extreme scenario. How often does someone have a seizure at an event?”
At any event with significant numbers, an event medical emergency like a seizure is a realistic possibility.
Epilepsy Action reports that 1 in 100 people in the UK has epilepsy. At an event with 2,000 people, that’s statistically 20 people who have epilepsy.
Most of them will be well-controlled on medication. But seizures can be triggered by:
  • Stress and excitement
  • Lack of sleep (common at multi-day events)
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Flashing lights
  • Physical exertion
  • Head injuries (especially at sports events)
  • Missing medication doses
And that’s just epilepsy. First-time seizures at events can also be caused by:
  • Head injuries
  • Heatstroke
  • Low blood sugar
  • Alcohol or drug use
  • Infections
  • Stroke
At any event with significant numbers of people, a seizure is a realistic possibility.
The question isn’t “will someone have a seizure at my event?” It’s “when someone has a seizure at my event, can my event medical cover actually help?”

What High-Risk Events Need When Someone Has a Seizure

If you’re running high-risk events, rugby, football, equestrian, motorsport, boxing, martial arts the stakes are even higher.
These events have increased risk of:
  • Head injuries leading to seizures
  • Major trauma requiring immediate medication
  • Cardiac events from extreme exertion
  • Serious bleeding requiring TXA
You cannot afford to have event medical cover that can’t respond appropriately when someone has a seizure at your event.
Imagine explaining to a competitor’s family that your medical provider couldn’t administer the medication that might have prevented brain damage. Imagine the insurance investigation. Imagine the headlines.
Now imagine the alternative: proper, CQC-registered event medical cover that can respond immediately with the right medications, the right equipment, and the right clinical governance.
Which would you rather have?

The Cost Question

“CQC-registered event medical providers cost more,” you’re thinking.
Yes, they do. Let’s be honest about that.
A self-employed paramedic might charge £25-35 per hour. A CQC-registered provider might charge £40-50 per hour (or more, depending on the event requirements).
For an 8-hour event, that’s a difference of £120-200.
Now let’s talk about the other costs when someone has a seizure at your event:
If something goes wrong with inadequate event medical cover:
  • Legal liability: £tens of thousands to £millions
  • Insurance premium increases: £thousands per year
  • Reputational damage: loss of future bookings, sponsors pulling out
  • Regulatory action: fines, license restrictions
  • Personal guilt: priceless
Versus the cost of proper cover:
  • An extra £120-200 for the event
  • Peace of mind: priceless
  • Proper protection: priceless
  • Professional response when it matters: priceless
Which is the better investment?

What You Should Be Asking About Seizure Response

When you’re booking event medical cover, don’t just ask “how much?” ask about their event medical emergency response capabilities:

1. “Do you operate under Patient Group Directions?”

If no, they can’t administer critical emergency medications for seizures.

2. “What medications do you carry for seizures?”

Specifically ask about: buccal midazolam, rectal diazepam. If they don’t have these, they can’t treat prolonged seizures.

3. “Can you show me your PGD documentation?”

A legitimate provider will have comprehensive PGDs and will share them (within confidentiality limits).

4. “What happens if someone has a prolonged seizure at my event?”

Listen to their answer. Do they have immediate treatment available, or do they wait for NHS backup?

5. “Are you CQC-registered for treatment of disease, disorder, and injury?”

Not just transportation. Actual treatment.

6. “How much oxygen do you carry?”

For a prolonged emergency, do they have adequate supplies?

7. “What’s your response protocol for seizures at events?”

They should be able to articulate clear protocols based on NICE guidelines.

8. “Do you have transport capability, or do we wait for NHS ambulances?”

Waiting for 999 in a rural location could mean 20-30 minute delays.

The Bottom Line

When you face an event medical emergency like a seizure at your event, you want cover that can:
  • Respond immediately
  • Administer appropriate medication within 5 minutes
  • Provide comprehensive clinical care
  • Have adequate oxygen and equipment for prolonged emergencies
  • Transport to hospital if needed
  • Do all of this legally, safely, and professionally
You don’t want event medical cover that has to stand there, watching someone seize for 20+ minutes, running out of oxygen, waiting for an NHS ambulance because they don’t have legal access to the medications that could stop it.
At Marches Ambulance Service, we’re a CQC-registered event medical provider with comprehensive PGDs. Our teams carry buccal midazolam, adequate oxygen supplies, and a full range of emergency medications.
When someone has a seizure at your event, we can treat them immediately. Not in 20 minutes. Not when the NHS ambulance arrives. Immediately.
No subcontractors. No surprises. No waiting while emergencies deteriorate.
Can your current event medical cover say the same?
Want to know what medications and capabilities your event medical cover should have? Download our free guide: “The Event Organiser’s Guide to Medical Cover” or get in touch: hello@marchesambulance.co.uk
Posted on
You’ve booked your event medical provider. The quote looked reasonable. The provider seemed professional on the phone. They’ve sent over some paperwork. Job done, right?
But here’s a question you probably haven’t asked: Who’s actually checking this event medical provider?
Who’s verifying their staff are who they say they are? Who’s ensuring they’re qualified, insured, and safe to work with vulnerable people? Who’s making sure your event medical provider is following proper protocols and maintaining standards? Who’s ensuring they have access to the right medications and equipment?
The uncomfortable answer might be: nobody.

The Story Nobody Wants to Tell

A few years ago, we were commissioned to provide a CQC-registered conveying ambulance at a school triathlon event. Hundreds of kids, aged 8-16, competing in swimming, cycling, and running. It’s the kind of event where safeguarding is absolutely paramount.
The event organiser had booked another event medical provider to run the medical cover for the event itself. We were there specifically because they needed a CQC-registered ambulance service for patient transport—something the main provider couldn’t offer.
The guy running the main medical provision seemed really good on the surface. Professional, experienced, confident. He had the uniform, the equipment, the chat. If you’d met him, you’d have thought: “Yeah, this person knows what they’re doing.”
Then we found out the truth.
He’d been struck off the paramedic register. The reason? Child sex offences.
Let that sink in for a moment.
This person was running medical cover at a school event. Surrounded by children. Providing medical care that often involves being alone with young people in vulnerable situations. The event organiser had booked him in good faith, having no idea about his background.
Why? Because he wasn’t working under a CQC-registered organisation. There was no regulatory oversight. No mandatory DBS checks. No verification of his professional registration status. No accountability.
He’d simply set up as a self-employed event medical provider. And schools and event organisers—who had no reason to suspect anything—were booking him.
This is exactly why we were there with a CQC-registered service. Because proper regulation and oversight matter. The event organiser needed a CQC-registered ambulance for transport, but they hadn’t realised the same standards should apply to the entire medical provision.

This Isn’t a One-Off

Before you think “that’s a rare extreme case,” consider this: if there’s no regulatory oversight, how would you know?
Without CQC registration and the accountability that comes with it, there’s nothing stopping anyone from:
  • Setting up as an event medical provider
  • Claiming qualifications they don’t have
  • Using staff who aren’t properly vetted
  • Operating without insurance
  • Ignoring safeguarding requirements
  • Cutting corners on equipment and protocols
And you, as the event organiser, would have no way of knowing until something goes wrong.

What CQC Registration Actually Checks for Your Event Medical Provider

When an event medical provider is CQC-registered (learn more about why CQC registration matters), they’re subject to regulatory oversight that includes:

Staff Recruitment & Vetting:

  • Enhanced DBS checks through the Disclosure and Barring Service for all staff
  • Verification of professional registration with the HCPC (Health and Care Professions Council) or NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council)
  • Qualification verification
  • Reference checks
  • Right to work verification
  • Occupational health clearance

Ongoing Monitoring:

  • Regular CQC inspections (announced and unannounced)
  • Staff competency assessments
  • Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements
  • Clinical supervision
  • Incident reporting and investigation

Accountability:

  • Public ratings (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate)
  • Published inspection reports
  • Regulatory action for failures
  • Legal consequences for serious breaches

Safeguarding:

  • Safeguarding policies and procedures
  • Staff training on safeguarding
  • Clear reporting mechanisms
  • DBS renewal requirements
  • Fitness to practice monitoring
  • Following government safeguarding guidance for events involving children and vulnerable adults
A non-CQC registered event medical provider? They have none of this. They’re accountable to nobody.

“But Surely There Are Other Checks?”

You might be thinking: “Even if my event medical provider isn’t CQC-registered, surely there are other ways to verify them?”
Let’s look at what’s actually available:

Professional Registration (HCPC, NMC):

Yes, you can check if someone is registered as a paramedic or nurse. But:
  • Registration doesn’t guarantee they’re currently fit to practice
  • It doesn’t verify they have appropriate insurance
  • It doesn’t confirm they’re working within proper governance structures
  • It doesn’t check their staff (if they’re employing others)

Insurance:

You can ask your event medical provider for proof of insurance. But:
  • Insurance certificates can be faked
  • You won’t know if the policy actually covers what they’re doing
  • You won’t know if they’ve disclosed everything to their insurer
  • You won’t know if claims have been made against them

References:

You can ask for references from previous clients. But:
  • References can be selective (they won’t give you the unhappy clients)
  • Previous clients may not have known what to look for
  • A “professional” appearance doesn’t equal proper practice
  • Problems may not have surfaced yet

DBS Checks:

You can ask if they’re DBS checked. But:
  • They can say “yes” without proving it
  • DBS checks expire and need renewal
  • A clear DBS doesn’t guarantee ongoing fitness to practice
  • If they employ others, are all their staff checked?
Without regulatory oversight, you’re relying entirely on trust. And trust isn’t a safeguarding strategy.

The Scenarios That Should Worry You

Let’s think about some realistic scenarios with event medical providers:

Scenario 1: The Unqualified “Paramedic”

Someone sets up as an event medical provider, claiming to be a qualified paramedic. They’ve got a uniform, some equipment, and a professional website. Event organisers book them.
Reality: They did a first aid course and bought a uniform online. They’re not registered with the HCPC. They have no professional indemnity insurance. They’re making clinical decisions they’re not qualified to make.
Without CQC oversight, who’s checking?

Scenario 2: The Struck-Off Clinician

A paramedic or nurse has been removed from their professional register due to serious misconduct. Maybe clinical incompetence. Maybe something worse. They can’t work for the NHS or any CQC-registered provider.
So they set up independently as an event medical provider. Working events where nobody checks their registration status.
Without CQC oversight, who’s stopping them?

Scenario 3: The Unvetted Staff

An event medical provider employs casual staff for events. They recruit through Facebook groups, often just hours before the event. No DBS checks. No reference checks. No verification of qualifications. Just “can you work Saturday?”
Some of these staff might be excellent. Some might not be. Some might have backgrounds that should absolutely preclude them from working with vulnerable people.
Without CQC oversight, who’s vetting them?

Scenario 4: The Uninsured Provider

An event medical provider claims to have insurance but actually doesn’t. Or has inadequate cover that wouldn’t pay out in a serious incident. They’re gambling that nothing will go wrong.
When something does go wrong, the event organiser discovers there’s no insurance to cover the claim. The liability falls back on them.
Without CQC oversight, who’s verifying the insurance?

“This Couldn’t Happen at My Event”

That’s what every event organiser thinks. Until it does.
The school that booked the struck-off paramedic? They thought they’d done their due diligence. They’d asked for a quote, checked the event medical provider seemed professional, and paid the invoice.
What they hadn’t done—because they didn’t know they needed to—was verify CQC registration. Check HCPC registration status. Ask about safeguarding policies.
Why would they? The provider seemed legitimate.
That’s exactly the problem.

The Regulatory Gap for Event Medical Providers

Here’s the really frustrating part: there’s currently a regulatory loophole for temporary event medical cover.
The CQC doesn’t regulate all event medical providers in the same way they regulate permanent healthcare services. This gap allows providers to operate without oversight, without accountability, and without the checks that would be mandatory in any other healthcare setting.
This loophole needs closing. And it will be. The direction of travel is clear, with upcoming regulations expected to bring all event medical provision under proper regulatory oversight.
But until that happens, the responsibility falls on you as the event organiser to ask the right questions.

What You Should Be Asking Your Event Medical Provider

For more questions to ask, see our complete guide: The Questions Every Event Organiser Should Ask Their Medical Provider

1. “Are you CQC-registered?”

If no, walk away. If yes, ask for their CQC registration number and check it on the CQC website.

2. “Can I see your latest CQC inspection report?”

All inspection reports are public. A legitimate event medical provider will happily share theirs.

3. “What’s your CQC rating?”

Outstanding? Good? Requires Improvement? Inadequate? This tells you a lot.

4. “How do you recruit and vet your staff?”

You want to hear: Enhanced DBS checks, professional registration verification, reference checks, occupational health clearance.

5. “Are all your staff DBS checked?”

Not just “yes.” Ask for evidence of their safeguarding policy and DBS renewal procedures.

6. “Can you provide evidence of your insurance?”

Not just a certificate. Ask what’s covered, what the limits are, and whether it’s appropriate for your event.

7. “What safeguarding policies do you have in place?”

Especially important for events involving children or vulnerable adults.

8. “Can I speak to references from similar events?”

And actually call them. Ask specific questions about professionalism, capability, and any concerns.
Learn more about what proper event medical cover should include and how to verify your provider.

The Cost of Getting It Wrong

“But CQC-registered event medical providers are more expensive,” you’re thinking.
Yes, they are. Because all of this—the vetting, the checks, the oversight, the accountability—costs money.
But what’s the cost of getting it wrong?
What’s the cost when you discover the person providing medical care at your event isn’t who they claimed to be?
What’s the cost when someone is harmed and you discover your event medical provider had no insurance?
What’s the cost when a serious incident occurs and the investigation reveals your provider had no proper qualifications, no oversight, and no accountability?
What’s the cost to your reputation? Your legal liability? Your insurance? And—most importantly—to the people who trusted you to keep them safe?

Every Event Deserves Proper Oversight

It doesn’t matter if you’re running a small community event or a major sporting competition. It doesn’t matter if you’re expecting 100 people or 10,000.
Every event deserves an event medical provider that’s properly regulated, properly vetted, and properly accountable.
Your participants, your spectators, your volunteers—they’re trusting you to keep them safe. That includes trusting you to ensure that anyone providing medical care has been properly checked and is working within appropriate oversight.
You wouldn’t hire a coach driver who wasn’t properly licensed and checked. You wouldn’t hire a food vendor who wasn’t registered with environmental health. You wouldn’t hire security staff who weren’t SIA licensed.
Why would you hire an event medical provider that isn’t properly regulated?

The Bottom Line

Without CQC registration, there’s no independent verification that your event medical provider is:
  • Who they say they are
  • Qualified to do what they’re doing
  • Employing properly vetted staff
  • Following appropriate protocols
  • Maintaining proper standards
  • Adequately insured
You’re relying entirely on trust. And in safeguarding, trust isn’t enough.
At Marches Ambulance Service, we’re a CQC-registered event medical provider, regularly inspected. All our staff undergo enhanced DBS checks, professional registration verification, and comprehensive vetting. We have robust safeguarding policies, proper insurance, and full accountability.
We’re not just telling you we’re professional—we’re proving it through independent regulatory oversight.
No subcontractors. No surprises. No gaps in accountability.
Can your current event medical provider say the same? More importantly, can they prove it?
Want to know what questions to ask your medical provider? Download our free guide: “The Event Organiser’s Guide to Medical Cover” or get in touch: hello@marchesambulance.co.uk
Posted on
You’ve done everything right. You’ve hired an event paramedic for your event. They’ve got the uniform, the qualifications, the experience. You can tick that box on your risk assessment with confidence, right?
Not so fast.
Here’s a question that might keep you awake tonight: What happens if someone at your event has a severe asthma attack or a seizure? Can your event paramedic actually treat them?
The uncomfortable truth is: probably not.

The Event Paramedic Medication Problem Nobody Talks About

Let’s paint a picture. It’s Saturday afternoon at your community festival. A spectator, a young mum watching her kids on the bouncy castle, suddenly can’t breathe. She’s used her inhaler, but it’s not working. She’s getting worse. Fast.
Your event paramedic rushes over, assesses the situation, and reaches for… nothing.
Because they can’t.
Salbutamol delivered via a nebuliser is the gold-standard treatment for a severe asthma attack. It can be life-saving. Your event paramedic knows exactly what to do, they’ve done it hundreds of times in their NHS career.
But here’s the problem: they don’t have any salbutamol with them.
“But they’re a event paramedic!” I hear you say. “Why wouldn’t they have it?”
Because they can’t buy it.

The Purchasing Problem

Here’s something most event organisers have no idea about: even though an event paramedic is legally allowed to administer salbutamol in an emergency (it’s a Schedule 19 medication under the Human Medicines Regulations 2012), they cannot purchase it without a doctor or prescriber’s sign-off.
And here’s where it gets even murkier: even if your self-employed paramedic finds a friendly GP willing to prescribe salbutamol to them, that prescription is in their name, not the patient’s. Using medication prescribed to one person to treat another person? That’s a legal and ethical minefield.
The same problem applies to GTN spray (glyceryl trinitrate) for chest pain—a paramedic can administer it under Schedule 19, but they can’t purchase it without a prescription. And if it’s prescribed to them personally, can they legally give it to your event attendee having a heart attack?
Unless your self-employed paramedic has a friendly GP willing to prescribe it to them personally (ethically questionable at best), or they’re working under a proper Patient Group Direction within a CQC-registered organisation (the legal way), they simply won’t have it.
And it gets worse. For a severe asthma attack, best clinical practice is to administer ipratropium bromide alongside salbutamol, studies show this combination significantly improves outcomes in acute severe asthma. But ipratropium bromide requires a Patient Group Direction (PGD) to administer. Even if your self-employed paramedic somehow got hold of it, they cannot legally give it without working under a PGD.
Other critical emergency medications that require PGDs include:
  • Ondansetron for severe nausea and vomiting
  • Co-amoxiclav for infections requiring antibiotic treatment
  • Tranexamic Acid (TXA) for life-threatening bleeds
  • Diazepam (or buccal midazolam) for prolonged seizures
  • Ipratropium Bromide for respiratory emergencies
And even for medications where paramedics have exemptions under Schedule 17 & 19 of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 (like adrenaline and morphine), there’s still the purchasing problem—they can administer them in an emergency, but they can’t buy them without proper authorisation.
Your paramedic might be trained to use them. They might be legally allowed to administer some of them in an emergency. But if they can’t purchase them in the first place, or if purchasing them creates legal and ethical problems, they won’t have them at your event.

Welcome to the World of PGDs

This is where Patient Group Directions (PGDs) come in.
PGDs are the legal framework that allows healthcare professionals to supply and administer prescription-only medicines to patients without an individual prescription. They solve the purchasing problem and create a proper clinical governance structure around medication use.
Here’s the crucial bit: PGDs must be held by an organisation, not an individual.
According to NHS England guidance, to use PGDs you must be:
  1. A CQC-registered ambulance service or private provider
  2. Registered specifically for ‘treatment of disease, disorder or injury’ (not just transportation)
A self-employed event paramedic, no matter how qualified or experienced, working outside of a CQC-registered organisation, cannot legally operate under PGDs.
Which means they can’t purchase the medications legally and safely. Which means they won’t have them at your event.

The Legal Reality: Why “Getting a Prescription” Doesn’t Work

What This Means for Your Event Paramedic

Some people reading this might think: “Well, can’t the paramedic just get their GP to prescribe these medications to them?”
No. And here’s exactly why that’s illegal.

The Legal Mechanics (Human Medicines Regulations 2012)

Under the Human Medicines Regulations 2012:
A prescription may only be issued for a named individual for the treatment of that individual’s own medical condition.
Once dispensed, those medicines are legally that person’s property and may only be used for their personal therapeutic use, not for onward supply or administration to another person.
So if a GP (or any other independent prescriber) writes a private prescription for a paramedic, even if the intention is professional use, the pharmacy dispenses it for the paramedic’s personal treatment, not as stock for patient care.
Using or even carrying it “for patient care” would constitute unlawful possession and unauthorised supply of a prescription-only medicine.

Why This Matters: The Professional Consequences

If a GP knowingly prescribes a prescription-only medicine (POM) to another clinician for stock purposes, they would breach:
And the paramedic would breach:
The Care Quality Commission (CQC), MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency), and the HCPC all treat this as unlawful stockholding.

Professional Interpretation (HCPC & MHRA)

Both regulators have made it crystal clear in their guidance:
Medicines obtained on a personal prescription may not be used for treating patients. They are for the named individual’s own therapeutic use only.
This isn’t a grey area. This isn’t open to interpretation. This is black and white.

Real-World Enforcement

This isn’t theoretical. Regulators have taken action:
  • HCPC vs [Paramedic, 2019]: Suspended for using self-prescribed diazepam “for patient anxiety”
  • GPhC / MHRA cases: Pharmacists disciplined for dispensing “stock” to clinicians on personal prescriptions

The Bottom Line for Event Organisers

🔴 It would be unlawful and professionally indefensible for a self-employed paramedic to use medicines prescribed “to themselves” for patient treatment.
Even if a GP issues the prescription in good faith, both parties would breach medicines legislation and professional standards.
This means:
  • The GP could face GMC sanctions
  • The paramedic could face HCPC sanctions (including suspension or removal from the register)
  • Both could face criminal prosecution under the Human Medicines Regulations 2012
  • Any insurance would likely be invalidated
  • You, as the event organiser, could be implicated in facilitating unlawful medicine supply

What This Means for Your Event

When you book a self-employed paramedic who isn’t working under a CQC-registered organisation with proper PGDs, one of three things is happening:
  1. They don’t have these medications at all (most common)
  2. They’re obtaining them illegally (through personal prescriptions or other means)
  3. They’re carrying leftover NHS stock (also illegal)
None of these scenarios are acceptable for your event.
And if something goes wrong—if they administer medication they shouldn’t have, or if they don’t have medication they should have—where does that leave you?

What Your Event Paramedic Can’t Do: Real Scenarios

Let’s go back to our real-world scenarios:
Scenario 1: The Severe Asthma Attack
Your spectator is struggling to breathe. She’s used her own inhaler multiple times, it’s not working. She needs nebulised salbutamol urgently. Your self-employed paramedic knows this. But they don’t have any salbutamol because they couldn’t buy it legally.
Even worse: for a severe asthma attack like this, best practice is to administer ipratropium bromide alongside the salbutamol, it significantly improves outcomes and can reduce hospital admissions. But ipratropium bromide requires a PGD to administer. Your paramedic can’t legally give it even if they somehow had access to it.
So you wait for the NHS ambulance. Her condition deteriorates. Every minute counts.
Scenario 2: The Prolonged Seizure
A competitor at your sports event has a seizure. It’s been going for three minutes now, well beyond the point where it should have stopped naturally. NICE guidelines are clear: seizures lasting more than five minutes need emergency medication. They need buccal midazolam or rectal diazepam to stop the seizure. Your paramedic has done this dozens of times before. But they don’t have the medication because they need a PGD to access it. The seizure continues. Brain damage becomes a real risk. You wait.
Scenario 3: The Cardiac Chest Pain
Someone at your event is experiencing severe chest pain. Classic cardiac symptoms. They need GTN spray immediately. Your paramedic is trained to administer it, it’s covered under Schedule 19. But they don’t have any because they couldn’t legally purchase it without a prescription in their own name (which creates that legal grey area we talked about). You wait. Time is muscle. Every minute without treatment means more heart damage.
Scenario 4: The Major Bleed
A competitor at your equestrian event has a serious fall. There’s significant bleeding. Tranexamic Acid (TXA) can reduce mortality in major trauma by up to 30% when given early. Your paramedic knows this. But TXA requires a PGD. They don’t have it. You wait.
These aren’t rare, exotic emergencies. These are common medical situations that happen at events up and down the country every single weekend.

“But Surely They’d Have Something?”

Some self-employed event paramedic’s work around this by:
  • Begging a friendly doctor to prescribe medications to them personally (now you know why this is illegal)
  • Carrying leftover medications from previous NHS shifts (definitely not legal)
  • Relying entirely on patients’ own prescribed medications
  • Simply not carrying these medications at all and hoping nothing happens
None of these are acceptable solutions for a professional medical service at your event.

The Clinical Governance Question

PGDs aren’t just about purchasing medications. They’re part of something much bigger: clinical governance.
The Care Quality Commission defines clinical governance as “a framework through which organisations are accountable for continuously improving the quality of their services and safeguarding high standards of care.”
A CQC-registered organisation with proper PGDs also has:
  • Robust prescribing protocols – When, how, and why medications are used
  • Clinical oversight – Senior clinicians reviewing practice and incidents
  • Audit trails – Every medication administered is tracked and reviewed
  • Proper supply chains – Medications sourced legally, stored correctly (including temperature control), and managed safely
  • Accountability – Clear lines of responsibility and professional standards
  • Insurance – Proper cover for medication administration and supply
  • Stock management – Ensuring medications are in date, stored at correct temperatures, and available when needed
  • Legal compliance – Medications purchased and supplied legally, not through questionable workarounds
When you book a self-employed paramedic directly, you get none of this. And if something goes wrong, where does that leave you as the event organiser?

Every Event Is at Risk

“But we’re just a small community event,” you might be thinking. “We’re not a high-risk motorsport or equestrian competition.”
That’s exactly the point.
According to Asthma + Lung UK, 5.4 million people in the UK are currently receiving treatment for asthma. That’s roughly 1 in 12 people. Epilepsy Action reports that 1 in 100 people in the UK has epilepsy. Heart disease remains the UK’s biggest killer.
Every event, regardless of size or type, has the potential for a medical emergency that requires more than basic first aid.
The question is: when that emergency happens, can your event paramedic actually provide the treatment needed?

High-Risk Events Need Even More

If you’re running high-risk events, equestrian, motorsport, autograss, mountain biking, extreme sports, this matters even more.
These aren’t just asthma attacks. These are events where major trauma is a realistic possibility. Where you might need:
  • Tranexamic Acid for life-threatening bleeds
  • Ketamine for pain relief and sedation
  • Advanced airway management medications
  • Cardiac arrest drugs
A self-employed event paramedic without PGDs and CQC backing won’t have access to any of this.
You wouldn’t hire a driver without a licence to transport your equipment. Why would you hire medical cover that can’t legally access the medications your participants might need?

The Cost of Proper Clinical Governance

“This sounds expensive,” you’re thinking.
You’re right. It is.
Developing and maintaining PGDs costs money. CQC registration costs money. Clinical governance systems cost money. Proper medication supply chains cost money. Insurance costs money. Legal compliance costs money.
This is why CQC-registered providers like Marches Ambulance Service charge more than someone you find on a Facebook group offering “event paramedic cover” for £25 an hour.
But here’s the real question: What’s the cost of NOT having it?
What’s the cost when someone has a life-threatening asthma attack at your event and your medical provider literally doesn’t have the medication that could save their life?
What’s the cost when someone has a heart attack and your paramedic can’t administer GTN because they couldn’t legally purchase it?
What’s the cost when a seizure continues for 25 minutes whilst waiting for the ambulance, because your paramedic doesn’t have access to diazepam?
What’s the cost to your reputation, your insurance, your legal liability, and most importantly, to the person who needed help?

The Bottom Line

Having a paramedic at your event is not the same as having proper event medical cover.
A paramedic working independently, outside of a CQC-registered organisation, probably cannot legally purchase the medications that could save someone’s life at your event.
Even if they’re trained to use them. Even if they’re legally allowed to administer some of them in an emergency.
If they can’t buy it legally, they won’t have it. And if they don’t have it, they can’t use it. And if they try to work around it with questionable prescriptions in their own name, you’re both in a legal grey area you don’t want to be in.
That’s not a criticism of individual paramedics, many are excellent clinicians doing their best within the constraints they’re working under. But it IS a criticism of a system that allows event organisers to think they’re getting comprehensive medical cover when they’re actually getting something far less.
You deserve to know what you’re paying for. More importantly, the people at your event deserve medical cover that can actually deliver when it matters most.
At Marches Ambulance Service, we’re CQC-registered for treatment of disease, disorder, and injury. We operate under comprehensive PGDs. Our paramedics have legal access to salbutamol, ipratropium bromide, GTN spray, diazepam, TXA, ondansetron, and a range of other critical medications. We have proper supply chains, robust clinical governance systems, and full insurance.
No subcontractors. No surprises. No gaps in care when someone needs us most.
Is your current provider able to say the same?
Want to know more about what proper event medical cover looks like? Download our free guide: “The Event Organiser’s Guide to Medical Cover” or get in touch: hello@marchesambulance.co.uk
Posted on

Patient Transport Services Herefordshire: Private Non-Emergency Ambulance

When you need patient transport services herefordshire but it’s not a 999 emergency, knowing your options can be confusing. NHS patient transport has strict criteria, long waiting lists, and limited availability. That’s where private patient transport services come in.

But here’s what most people don’t realise: private patient transport is a paid service, and that’s actually a good thing. Let me explain why.

What Are Patient Transport Services?

Patient transport services provide medical transport for people who need professional care during their journey but don’t require emergency ambulance response.

This includes:

  • Hospital appointments and discharge
  • Transfers between medical facilities
  • Planned procedures and treatments
  • Specialist consultations
  • Repatriation after illness or injury abroad

The key difference: Non-emergency patient transport is planned, scheduled, and staffed by trained medical professionals who can provide care during the journey.

Is This Service Free?

No—Marches Ambulance Service is a private, paid patient transport service. We are not part of the NHS Patient Transport Service.

When to Use Private Patient Transport Services in Herefordshire:

✅ NHS patient transport is unavailable or fully booked

✅ You need transport outside NHS eligibility criteria

✅ You require a higher level of care during transport (stretcher, high dependency)

✅ You need flexible booking or short-notice service

✅ You’re arranging private medical appointments

✅ You want guaranteed reliability and professional standards

Why We Charge (And Why That Matters):

Unlike NHS patient transport, we’re a private ambulance service with:

  • Full clinical capability: CQC-registered for Treatment of Disease, Disorder and Injury (not just basic transport)
  • Paramedic crews: Advanced clinical training and emergency capability
  • Medical Director oversight: Clinical governance and protocols
  • £5 million insurance: Medical malpractice and public liability coverage
  • Guaranteed availability: Flexible scheduling when you need it, not when the system can fit you in
  • Reliability you can count on: We don’t cancel, run late, or leave you waiting

This means you get safe, reliable, professional care, when you need it, not when a stretched NHS service can fit you in.

When Do You Need Patient Transport Services?

Hospital Appointments

You have a hospital appointment but:

  • You can’t sit in a standard car
  • You need to lie flat during transport
  • You require medical monitoring during the journey
  • You need oxygen or other medical support
  • You’re recovering from surgery or treatment

Hospital Discharge

You’re being discharged but:

  • You live alone and need assistance getting home safely
  • You require medical equipment during transport
  • You need a stretcher or wheelchair-accessible vehicle
  • Your family can’t provide the level of care needed during the journey

Transfers Between Facilities

You need to move between:

  • Hospitals for specialist treatment
  • Hospital to care home or rehabilitation facility
  • Private clinic to hospital
  • Out-of-area specialist centers

Planned Medical Procedures

You’re having:

  • Day surgery or procedures requiring sedation
  • Chemotherapy or radiotherapy appointments
  • Dialysis treatment
  • Specialist scans or tests where you can’t drive afterwards

When Do You Need Patient Transport Services?

Hospital Appointments

You have a hospital appointment but:

  • You can’t sit in a standard car
  • You need to lie flat during transport
  • You require medical monitoring during the journey
  • You need oxygen or other medical support
  • You’re recovering from surgery or treatment

Hospital Discharge

You’re being discharged but:

  • You live alone and need assistance getting home safely
  • You require medical equipment during transport
  • You need a stretcher or wheelchair-accessible vehicle
  • Your family can’t provide the level of care needed during the journey

Transfers Between Facilities

You need to move between:

  • Hospitals for specialist treatment
  • Hospital to care home or rehabilitation facility
  • Private clinic to hospital
  • Out-of-area specialist centers

Planned Medical Procedures

You’re having:

  • Day surgery or procedures requiring sedation
  • Chemotherapy or radiotherapy appointments
  • Dialysis treatment
  • Specialist scans or tests where you can’t drive afterward

Real Stories: How We Help

Mrs L: Back Surgery Transport

Mrs L needed transport from her home in Leominster to Birmingham for spinal surgery. She couldn’t sit upright and required pain management during the 90-minute journey.

What we provided:

  • Stretcher transport with full pain relief protocols
  • Paramedic crew trained in spinal care
  • Smooth, careful driving with medical monitoring throughout
  • Direct admission to the surgical ward

Mrs L’s daughter: “The crew were wonderful. Mum was anxious about the journey, but they kept her comfortable and calm the whole way. Worth every penny for the peace of mind.”

Mr D: Early Surgery Transport

Mr D had a 7am surgery slot at Hereford County Hospital. He lived alone, had mobility issues, and couldn’t arrange family transport at that hour.

What we provided:

  • 5:30am pickup with wheelchair-accessible vehicle
  • Assistance from home to hospital ward
  • Professional, punctual service that got him there on time

Mr D: “I was dreading trying to arrange transport that early. The NHS couldn’t help, but Marches sorted it without any fuss. Brilliant service.”

Mr K: Complex Medical Transport

Mr K needed regular transport from a care home in Ross-on-Wye to Gloucester Royal for specialist cardiology appointments. He had multiple conditions requiring careful monitoring.

What we provided:

  • Regular scheduled transport (every 6 weeks)
  • High-dependency care during 45-minute journey
  • Cardiac monitoring and oxygen support
  • Consistent crew who knew his medical history

Care home manager: “Having a reliable, professional service we can count on makes all the difference. The team know Mr K now, and he feels safe with them.”

Why Choose Our Patient Transport Services in Herefordshire?

Local Knowledge

We’re based in Leominster and know Herefordshire inside out:

  • Quickest routes to Hereford County Hospital
  • Access to specialist centers (Birmingham, Gloucester, Worcester)
  • Understanding of rural transport challenges
  • Familiarity with local care homes and medical facilities

Professional Standards

We’re not just a taxi with a wheelchair—we’re a professional ambulance service with:

  • CQC registered for Treatment of Disease, Disorder and Injury (not just basic transport—we can provide full clinical care)
  • Paramedic and ambulance crews with advanced clinical training
  • Medical Director oversight and clinical governance
  • Full medical equipment and emergency capability
  • Comprehensive insurance (£5 million medical malpractice and public liability)

The difference matters. Many patient transport services are only registered for basic transport, they can’t legally provide the level of clinical care we can. Learn more about what different types of CQC registration mean.

Flexibility You Can Count On

  • Advance booking: Schedule weeks or months ahead for planned appointments
  • Short-notice service: We accommodate urgent requests when possible
  • Flexible timing: Early morning, evening, and weekend transport available
  • Reliable: We don’t cancel or run late, your appointment matters

Our Service Areas

Primary coverage:

  • Herefordshire (Hereford, Leominster, Ross-on-Wye, Ledbury, Bromyard)
  • Worcestershire (Worcester, Malvern, Evesham)
  • Gloucestershire (Gloucester, Cheltenham, Tewkesbury)
  • Shropshire (Ludlow, Shrewsbury, Telford)

Extended coverage:

  • Birmingham hospitals (Queen Elizabeth, Heartlands, Good Hope)
  • Bristol hospitals (Southmead, BRI)
  • Cardiff hospitals
  • London specialist centers (by arrangement)

Not sure if we cover your route? Just ask, we’re happy to discuss your specific needs.

Transport Options Available

Standard Medical Transport

Best for:

  • Patients who can sit upright but need assistance
  • Wheelchair users requiring accessible transport
  • Those needing medical supervision during journey

Includes:

  • Wheelchair-accessible vehicle or ambulance
  • Trained crew (minimum 2 staff)
  • Basic medical equipment and oxygen
  • Assistance from door to destination

Stretcher Transport

Best for:

  • Patients who must lie flat
  • Post-surgery or injury recovery
  • Spinal conditions or severe pain
  • Comfort and dignity during longer journeys

Includes:

  • Fully-equipped ambulance
  • Paramedic crew
  • Stretcher with full medical mattress
  • Pain relief and comfort measures
  • Medical monitoring throughout

High Dependency Transport

Best for:

  • Complex medical conditions
  • Cardiac or respiratory patients
  • Those requiring continuous monitoring
  • Transfers needing advanced clinical care

Includes:

  • Advanced life support ambulance
  • Paramedic crew with specialist training
  • Full monitoring equipment (ECG, oxygen saturation, blood pressure)
  • Emergency medications and equipment
  • Direct communication with receiving hospital

Not sure which option you need? View our full ambulance services or call us to discuss: 01568 605110

Understanding Patient Transport Costs

We believe in transparent pricing, even though every journey is different.

Your transport cost depends on:

  • Distance: Mileage to and from your destination
  • Medical needs: Basic assistance vs. stretcher vs. high-dependency care
  • Vehicle type: Standard transport vs. fully-equipped ambulance
  • Timing: Advance booking vs. short-notice requests
  • Additional requirements: Oxygen, specialist equipment, bariatric transport

Typical scenarios:

  • Local hospital appointment (within Herefordshire): Standard medical transport, 30-minute journey
  • Specialist centre transfer (Birmingham/Gloucester): Stretcher transport, 60-90 minute journey
  • Complex medical transport: High-dependency care with monitoring

Why private patient transport costs more than a taxi:

You’re not just paying for transport—you’re paying for:

  • CQC-regulated clinical governance (full treatment capability, not just transport)
  • Professional paramedic crews with advanced training
  • Medical equipment and emergency capability
  • Comprehensive insurance and safety standards
  • Guaranteed reliability and punctuality

Get a personalised quote:📞 01568 605110📧 hello@marchesambulance.co.uk

Booking Your Patient Transport

Advance Booking (Recommended)

For planned appointments, procedures, or regular transport:

  1. Contact us with your appointment details (date, time, location)
  2. Discuss your needs (mobility, medical requirements, assistance needed)
  3. Receive a quote (clear, transparent pricing)
  4. Confirm booking (we’ll send written confirmation)
  5. Relax (we’ll be there on time, guaranteed)

How far in advance? Book as early as you like—we schedule weeks or months ahead for regular appointments.

Short-Notice Service

Need transport urgently?

  • Call us as soon as you know you need transport
  • We’ll check availability and do our best to accommodate
  • Subject to crew and vehicle availability
  • May incur short-notice premium

Emergency transport: If it’s a life-threatening emergency, always call 999 first.

What Patients Say

“Professional, caring, and reliable. The crew made my mum feel safe and comfortable during a difficult journey. Highly recommend.”— Sarah T., Hereford

“I’ve used Marches for regular hospital transport for six months now. Always on time, always professional, always kind. Can’t fault them.”— John M., Leominster

“After my hip surgery, I needed stretcher transport home from hospital. The team were brilliant—gentle, reassuring, and got me home safely. Thank you.”— Margaret P., Ross-on-Wye

Frequently Asked Questions About Patient Transport Services

Q: How much does private patient transport cost in Herefordshire?

A: Costs vary based on distance, medical needs, and vehicle type. A typical local hospital transfer might range from £200-£400+, but we provide personalised quotes based on your specific requirements. Contact us for accurate pricing: 01568 605110.

Q: Do I need a doctor’s referral?

A: No referral is needed for private patient transport. You, a family member, or your care provider can book directly with us.

Q: What’s the difference between NHS patient transport and your service?

A: NHS patient transport is free but has strict eligibility criteria, limited availability, and can be unreliable. Our private service offers:

  • Full clinical capability (CQC-registered for treatment, not just transport)
  • Paramedic crews (not just drivers or healthcare assistants)
  • Flexible booking and guaranteed availability
  • Professional standards and comprehensive insurance
  • Punctuality and reliability you can count on

It’s a paid service, but you get what you pay for—peace of mind and professional care.

Q: Can you transport someone with dementia or complex needs?

A: Yes. Our crews are trained to work with patients with dementia, learning disabilities, mental health conditions, and complex medical needs. Let us know your requirements when booking so we can ensure the right crew and approach.

Q: Are you insured and regulated?

A: Yes. We’re CQC-registered for Treatment of Disease, Disorder and Injury (not just basic transport) with £5 million medical malpractice and public liability insurance, plus £10 million employers’ liability.

Q: What if my appointment is cancelled or rescheduled?

A: Contact us as soon as you know. We’ll do our best to reschedule without penalty, though cancellation terms apply for very short notice (detailed in our booking confirmation).

Q: Can I travel with my family members?

A: Yes, in most cases we can accommodate one family member or carer travelling with the patient (space permitting). Let us know when booking.

Q: Do you transport to hospitals outside Herefordshire?

A: Absolutely. We regularly transport patients to specialist centres in Birmingham, Gloucester, Worcester, Bristol, Cardiff, and London. Distance is no problem—we’ll get you there safely.

Who Uses Our Patient Transport Services?

Individual patients and families:

  • People with mobility issues or medical conditions
  • Post-surgery or injury recovery
  • Elderly patients needing assistance
  • Those without family able to provide transport

Care homes and facilities:

  • Regular hospital appointment transport for residents
  • Discharge and admission transfers
  • Specialist consultation transport

Private hospitals and clinics:

  • Patient discharge services
  • Inter-facility transfers
  • Repatriation services

Insurance companies:

  • Medical repatriation after illness abroad
  • Private medical insurance transport arrangements

Who Uses Our Patient Transport Services?

Individual patients and families:

  • People with mobility issues or medical conditions
  • Post-surgery or injury recovery
  • Elderly patients needing assistance
  • Those without family able to provide transport

Care homes and facilities:

  • Regular hospital appointment transport for residents
  • Discharge and admission transfers
  • Specialist consultation transport

Private hospitals and clinics:

  • Patient discharge services
  • Inter-facility transfers
  • Repatriation services

Insurance companies:

  • Medical repatriation after illness abroad
  • Private medical insurance transport arrangements

Contact Us for Patient Transport Services in Herefordshire

Ready to book or have questions about your specific transport needs?

📞 Call us: 01568 605110📧 Email us: hello@marchesambulance.co.uk🌐 Visit: Contact Us

Our office hours:Monday-Friday: 9am-5pm Transport services: 7 days a week, including evenings and weekends

Based in Leominster, serving all of Herefordshire and beyond.

Who Uses Our Patient Transport Services?

Individual patients and families:

  • People with mobility issues or medical conditions
  • Post-surgery or injury recovery
  • Elderly patients needing assistance
  • Those without family able to provide transport

Care homes and facilities:

  • Regular hospital appointment transport for residents
  • Discharge and admission transfers
  • Specialist consultation transport

Private hospitals and clinics:

  • Patient discharge services
  • Inter-facility transfers
  • Repatriation services

Insurance companies:

  • Medical repatriation after illness abroad
  • Private medical insurance transport arrangements

Contact Us for Patient Transport Services in Herefordshire

Ready to book or have questions about your specific transport needs?

📞 Call us: 01568 605110📧 Email us: hello@marchesambulance.co.uk🌐 Visit: Contact Us

Our office hours:Monday-Friday: 9am-5pmTransport services: 7 days a week, including evenings and weekends

Based in Leominster, serving all of Herefordshire and beyond.

Related Services

Looking for other professional medical transport and ambulance services?

About Marches Ambulance Service

We’re a CQC-registered independent ambulance service based in Herefordshire, providing professional patient transport, event medical cover, and ambulance services across the Midlands. With experienced paramedic crews, modern equipment, and a commitment to clinical excellence, we deliver the safe, reliable care you deserve.

No subcontractors, no surprises, just professional medical transport you can trust.

Posted on
The scenarios every event organiser fears – and why your choice of medical provider could make all the difference between life and death
A medical emergency at event can happen at any time. It’s 9:30 PM at your outdoor festival. The headline act is midway through their set when a 45-year-old man near the front barrier suddenly clutches his chest and collapses. The crowd around him starts shouting for help, phones are filming, and security is trying to clear a path.
What happens next depends entirely on the medical cover you’ve chosen for your event.
This isn’t a hypothetical scenario – it’s based on a real case from one of our events. And the difference between basic first aid response and professional CQC-registered medical cover could literally be the difference between life and death.

The Reality: Medical Emergencies Will Happen

As an event organiser, you might hope that serious medical emergencies won’t happen at your event. But hope isn’t a strategy, and the statistics are clear:
  • Large events (3,000+ attendees) typically see 3-5% medical presentation rates
  • Serious emergencies requiring hospital treatment occur at roughly 0.1-0.3% of events
  • Peak medical demand usually occurs in a single 1-2 hour window
  • Alcohol, heat, and crowd dynamics significantly increase emergency risk
The question isn’t whether medical emergencies will happen – it’s whether you’ll be prepared when they do.

Case Study 1: Chest Pain at a Music Festival

The Scenario: A 45-year-old male attendee collapsed with severe chest pain during a headline performance. Crowd density was high, lighting was poor, and the nearest hospital was 20 minutes away.
Basic First Aid Provider Response:
  • Security calls for first aid team
  • First aider arrives with basic kit
  • Takes pulse, checks breathing
  • Calls 999 and waits for ambulance
  • Limited pain relief options
  • No diagnostic capability
  • Total response time to definitive care: 35+ minutes
Basic First Aid Provider Response:
  • Security calls for first aid team
  • First aider arrives with basic kit after 8 minutes (crowd access difficulties)
  • Takes pulse, checks breathing, recognises chest pain
  • Calls 999 – this becomes a Category 2 call (serious but not immediately life-threatening)
  • NHS ambulance service target response time: 18 minutes (but often much longer due to current pressures)
  • First aider provides basic comfort measures while waiting
  • Actual ambulance arrival: 35 minutes (system under pressure, no available crews nearby)
  • NHS crew performs 12-lead ECG, recognises STEMI, establishes IV access
  • NHS crew would also bypass local A&E and go directly to cardiac centre (they know the system too)
  • Total time from collapse to specialist cardiac treatment: 87 minutes
CQC-Registered Provider Response (What We Did):
  • Paramedic on scene within 4 minutes
  • Patient safely moved to our ambulance using a carry chair (the crowd made stretcher access impossible)
  • Once in the ambulance: 12-lead ECG performed immediately, showing clear signs of a heart attack in progress
  • IV line established, strong pain relief administered to keep patient comfortable
  • Critical clinical decision: ECG showed this was a STEMI – a specific type of heart attack where a major artery is completely blocked
  • Hospital choice matters: We called the specialist cardiac centre directly (bypassing local A&E just like NHS crews would)
  • Direct phone call to the cardiac catheter lab with ECG results transmitted electronically
  • Hospital team prepared and waiting when we arrived
  • Total time from collapse to specialist cardiac treatment: 52 minutes
The 35-Minute Difference: Both our team and the NHS ambulance crew would make the same clinical decisions – recognising the STEMI and going directly to the cardiac centre. The critical difference is response time. Those 31 minutes (35 vs 4 minutes to get on scene) plus the additional time for crowd extrication and assessment add up to a 35-minute delay in getting life-saving treatment started.
In STEMI cases, every minute counts. The “door-to-balloon” target is 90 minutes from first medical contact to surgery. Starting that clock 35 minutes earlier can mean the difference between minimal heart damage and significant long-term disability.

Case Study 2: Acute Behavioural Disturbance at Electronic Dance Music Event

The Scenario: A 21-year-old male became extremely aggressive and agitated after suspected stimulant use at an electronic dance music festival. Security were called when he became violent toward other attendees. He was sweating profusely, hyperventilating, and making growling sounds – classic signs of Acute Behavioural Disturbance (ABD) brought on by chemical stimulants.
Basic First Aid Provider Response:
  • First aiders called to assist with “aggressive male”
  • Arrive to find security restraining patient face-down on ground
  • Patient extremely agitated, sweating, almost growling at those nearby
  • First aiders consider this primarily a security issue, attempt verbal de-escalation
  • 999 called – police advised they will attend but may be delayed
  • Patient remains restrained by several security officers for several minutes
  • Each time restraint is reduced, patient becomes violent again
  • After 8 minutes, patient suddenly becomes calm and quiet
  • On release, security find patient has stopped breathing – cardiac arrest from positional asphyxia
  • First aiders begin CPR, second 999 call made
  • Result: Preventable cardiac arrest, potential fatality
CQC-Registered Provider Response (What We Did):
  • First responder recognises ABD presentation immediately, calls for paramedic support
  • Clinical assessment: Stimulant-induced acute behavioural disturbance requiring chemical restraint
  • Paramedic works under PGD (Patient Group Direction) to administer IM diazepam 10mg
  • Patient positioned safely (not face-down) during restraint to prevent positional asphyxia
  • First dose partially effective – patient calmer but still agitated
  • Second dose IM diazepam administered after 15 minutes
  • Patient sufficiently calm to be sat upright and safely restrained
  • Transferred to stretcher and ambulance for safe transport to ED
  • Result: Patient conscious throughout, no cardiac arrest, safe outcome
The Critical Difference: ABD is a medical emergency, not a security problem. Patients in this state have altered brain chemistry from stimulant drugs and cannot be reasoned with or physically restrained safely for extended periods.
Positional asphyxia occurs when someone is restrained face-down – their own body weight restricts breathing, leading to cardiac arrest. Security staff aren’t trained to recognise this risk, but medical professionals are.
Our paramedic recognised that this patient needed chemical restraint (controlled sedation) rather than physical restraint. The IM diazepam calmed his brain chemistry enough to make him manageable without the life-threatening risks of prolonged physical restraint.
The Stark Reality: Without proper medical intervention, ABD cases frequently result in cardiac arrest from positional asphyxia during restraint. This isn’t security’s fault – they’re doing what they think is right. But ABD requires medical treatment, not security management.

Case Study 3: Synthetic Opioid Overdose – The Hidden Killer

The Scenario: Security report a “collapsed male” near the main stage. A 22-year-old is found unconscious with severely depressed breathing – only 4 breaths per minute. He’s unresponsive to verbal stimuli and has pinpoint pupils. His friends insist “he only took pills and ketamine” – they have no idea he’s consumed synthetic opioids mixed into other substances.
Basic First Aid Provider Response:
  • First aider recognises dangerously slow breathing rate
  • Calls 999 – Category 2 response, NHS ambulance target 18 minutes
  • Administers 100% oxygen via face mask
  • Patient continues to deteriorate – breathing becomes more laboured
  • First aider begins bag-valve-mask ventilation as patient approaches respiratory arrest
  • Critical problem: Without naloxone, patient will not recover regardless of breathing support
  • Actual ambulance arrival: 28 minutes (system pressures)
  • NHS crew arrives with naloxone, begins treatment
  • Total time from collapse to naloxone administration: 28+ minutes
  • Risk: Prolonged hypoxia, potential brain damage or cardiac arrest
CQC-Registered Provider Response (What We Did):
  • First responder on scene within 3 minutes, immediately recognises depressed respiratory rate
  • Intranasal naloxone 1.8mg administered immediately from response bag
  • Nasopharyngeal airway inserted to secure airway
  • Clinical support called, full set of observations obtained (BP, pulse, oxygen saturation)
  • Patient shows slight improvement but still critically unwell
  • Transferred to ambulance, IV access established
  • IV naloxone commenced – synthetic opioids require much higher doses than traditional heroin
  • Multiple doses administered: Total of 5 separate naloxone doses over 20 minutes
  • Patient closely monitored for re-sedation (naloxone wears off faster than synthetic opioids)
  • Emergency transfer to ED
  • Total time from collapse to first naloxone: 3 minutes
  • Patient outcome: Full recovery to normal consciousness
The Synthetic Opioid Reality: This patient had unknowingly consumed fentanyl analogues mixed into what he thought were party drugs. Synthetic opioids are now commonly found in pills sold as MDMA, cocaine, or other substances at festivals and events.
Why This Case Nearly Became Fatal:
  • Synthetic opioids are 50-100 times stronger than heroin
  • Users often don’t know they’ve taken opioids – they think they’ve taken something else
  • Standard naloxone doses often insufficient – synthetic opioids require multiple, higher doses
  • Re-sedation is common – naloxone wears off in 30-90 minutes, synthetic opioids last much longer
The 25-Minute Difference: Our immediate naloxone administration (3 minutes vs 28+ minutes) prevented:
  • Prolonged hypoxia (lack of oxygen to the brain)
  • Potential brain damage from oxygen deprivation
  • Cardiac arrest from respiratory failure
  • Death – synthetic opioid overdoses are frequently fatal without immediate intervention
The Hidden Epidemic: Synthetic opioid contamination of recreational drugs is now the leading cause of overdose deaths at music events. Users have no idea they’re at risk because they don’t think they’re taking opioids. Traditional drug education doesn’t prepare people for this threat.
Why Clinical Knowledge Matters:
  • Recognition: Identifying opioid overdose vs other causes of collapse
  • Immediate treatment: Having naloxone immediately available, not waiting for ambulances
  • Dosing expertise: Understanding that synthetic opioids need much higher naloxone doses
  • Monitoring: Watching for re-sedation and repeat dosing requirements
  • Equipment: IV access for more effective naloxone administration

Medical Emergency at Event: What Every Organiser Must Know

The Legal Reality: Your Duty of Care

When a serious medical emergency occurs at your event, several legal questions arise:
Did you provide adequate medical cover for the risks involved? Courts will examine whether your medical provision was appropriate for your event type, size, and risk profile.
Was your medical provider competent to handle the emergency? This includes both clinical competence and appropriate equipment/medication access.
Did you follow industry best practice? The Purple Guide increasingly recommends CQC-registered providers for larger events.
Could the outcome have been different with better medical cover? This is where the difference between basic first aid and professional medical cover becomes legally significant.

Insurance Implications: When Claims Arise

Your insurance provider will scrutinise your medical provision decisions if a serious incident occurs:

Questions They’ll Ask:

  • Was your medical provider appropriately qualified?
  • Did they have adequate insurance (medical malpractice, not just public liability)?
  • Were they CQC-registered for treatment of disease/injury?
  • Did you conduct a proper medical needs assessment?

The Financial Reality:

  • Medical negligence claims can exceed £1 million
  • Public liability may not cover clinical decision-making
  • Inadequate medical cover can void your event insurance

What Event Organisers Tell Us After Serious Incidents

“We never thought something like this would happen at our event. When it did, we realised how unprepared we were with basic first aid cover.”
“The difference in response was incredible. Our previous provider would have just called an ambulance and waited. Your team probably saved his life.”
“It was terrifying watching someone collapse at our festival. Knowing we had proper medical cover made all the difference – not just for the patient, but for our peace of mind.”

The Questions You Should Ask Your Medical Provider

Before your next event, ask potential medical providers:
Clinical Capability:
  • “What medications can you administer on-site?”
  • “Do you have ECG capability and clinical decision-making authority?”
  • “What’s your experience with drug-related emergencies?”
Emergency Response:
  • “How quickly can you get to any point on my site?”
  • “What’s your protocol for serious cardiac events?”
  • “How do you communicate with receiving hospitals?”
Qualifications and Insurance:
  • “Are you CQC-registered for treatment of disease/injury?”
  • “Do you carry medical malpractice insurance?”
  • “Who makes clinical decisions at my event?”
If they can’t answer these questions confidently, they’re not equipped to handle serious medical emergencies.

The Cost of Getting It Wrong

Human Cost:
  • Preventable deaths or permanent disability
  • Trauma for attendees who witness medical emergencies
  • Long-term impact on families affected
Financial Cost:
  • Medical negligence claims
  • Event cancellation or reputation damage
  • Insurance premium increases or coverage withdrawal
Legal Cost:
  • Health and Safety Executive investigations
  • Corporate manslaughter charges in extreme cases
  • Personal liability for event organisers

Prevention vs Response: The Complete Picture

Professional event medical cover isn’t just about responding to emergencies – it’s about preventing them:

Risk Assessment and Mitigation

  • Identifying site hazards that cause injuries
  • Crowd management to prevent crushing incidents
  • Environmental monitoring for heat-related illness

Early Intervention

  • Identifying unwell attendees before they become emergencies
  • Managing intoxication before it becomes dangerous
  • Treating minor conditions before they escalate

Preparedness

  • Pre-positioned resources for predicted peak demand
  • Direct communication with local hospitals
  • Coordination with police and other emergency services

Making the Right Choice for Your Event

The scenarios we’ve shared aren’t designed to frighten you – they’re real situations that professional event medical providers handle regularly. The question is whether your medical cover is prepared for these realities.
When choosing medical cover, remember:
It’s not about if serious emergencies will happen – it’s about when.
The difference between basic first aid and professional medical cover can be measured in minutes – and those minutes can mean everything.
Your choice of medical provider is ultimately a choice about the level of risk you’re willing to accept.

Frequently Asked Questions

How common are serious medical emergencies at events? Serious emergencies requiring hospital treatment occur at roughly 0.1-0.3% of large events. That means a 5,000-person event might see 5-15 serious cases.
What’s the most common serious emergency you see? Cardiac events, drug-related emergencies, and serious trauma from falls or crowd incidents are the most frequent serious presentations.
How do you decide when to call an ambulance vs treating on-site? Our senior clinicians make these decisions based on clinical assessment, patient stability, and treatment requirements. We can often provide definitive treatment on-site for many conditions.

Protect Your Event and Your Attendees

Every event organiser hopes that serious medical emergencies won’t happen at their event. But hope isn’t a strategy, and when lives are on the line, you need medical cover that can respond with clinical expertise, appropriate equipment, and immediate intervention capability.
Don’t wait for an emergency to discover whether your medical cover is adequate. The time to make that decision is now, during your planning phase, when you can still choose providers who are truly equipped to handle whatever happens.
Ready to ensure your event is properly protected?
Contact us for a comprehensive medical needs assessment that considers your specific risks and ensures you have the clinical capability to handle serious emergencies when they occur.
Because when someone’s life is on the line at your event, there are no second chances to get it right.
Marches Ambulance Service provides CQC-registered medical cover with senior clinical oversight for events across Herefordshire, Worcestershire, and beyond. Our experienced teams are equipped to handle serious medical emergencies with the clinical capability and equipment that saves lives. Contact us at hello@marchesambulance.co.uk or 01568 605110.
Posted on
Why every UK event organiser must create a proper medical needs assessment – and why most get it completely wrong. 
If you’re organising an event in the UK, the Purple Guide requires you to create a medical needs assessment. It’s not optional, it’s not a suggestion – it’s a legal requirement for licensed events. But here’s the problem: most event organisers think this is just about counting first aiders and calculating ratios based on attendee numbers.
They’re wrong.
A proper medical needs assessment isn’t about how many first aiders you need – it’s about identifying every medical risk at your event and ensuring you have the right resources to manage them safely. Get it wrong, and you’re not just risking attendee safety – you’re exposing yourself to serious liability.

What the Purple Guide Actually Requires

The Purple Guide is crystal clear: “Every event should have an appropriate level of medical cover, set out in a specific medical plan and based on a comprehensive medical needs assessment.”
It goes further: “The calculation of medical needs should not be based solely on expected numbers attending.”
This isn’t bureaucratic box-ticking. This is about understanding that a 5,000-person rock festival needs completely different medical provision than a 5,000-person classical concert, even though the attendance numbers are identical.

Why Most Medical Needs Assessments Fail

We’ve reviewed hundreds of medical needs assessments over our 5 years in the industry, and the majority make the same fundamental mistakes:
  • Focus only on attendee numbers – “We have 3,000 people, so we need X first aiders”
  • Use generic templates without considering event-specific risks
  • Miss environmental hazards completely
  • Created by people who don’t understand medical emergencies or event dynamics
  • Ignore site-specific factors that could cause multiple casualties
The result? Inadequate medical cover that fails when you need it most, and potential legal liability for failing to meet your duty of care.

The Purple Guide’s 3-Step Assessment Process

The Purple Guide outlines a specific methodology for calculating medical needs:

Step 1: Predict Expected Presentations

This isn’t guesswork. It’s based on:
  • Event type and activity level (active participation vs passive attendance)
  • Duration (presentations increase markedly after 6 hours)
  • Environmental factors (temperature, weather, terrain)
  • Audience demographics (age profile, alcohol consumption, camping)
  • Historical data from similar events

Step 2: Predict Peak Demand

Most events see 10-20% of their daily medical presentations in a single hour. Your medical provision must handle this peak, not just the average demand.

Step 3: Match Resources to Predicted Demand

This means having the right skills, equipment, and capacity for your predicted presentations – not just bodies in high-vis vests.

Critical Risk Factors Most Organisers Miss

A proper medical needs assessment must identify and address these often-overlooked risks:

Environmental Hazards

  • Uneven ground and trip hazards that cause ankle injuries and falls
  • Steps and level changes that become dangerous in crowds or poor lighting
  • Weather exposure – both heat exhaustion and hypothermia risks
  • Site accessibility for emergency vehicles and stretcher access

Event-Specific Risks

  • Moshing and crowd dynamics at rock concerts
  • Alcohol and substance use at festivals (significantly increases medical presentations)
  • Physical participation in sports events or adventure activities
  • Camping complications (doubles presentation rates for camping attendees)

Vulnerable Groups

  • Age demographics (elderly attendees have different medical needs)
  • Disability access and specific support requirements
  • Intoxication levels and associated risks
  • Mental health considerations for high-stress or emotional events

Real-World Examples: Why Context Matters

Outdoor Music Festival (3,000 attendees):
  • High alcohol consumption expected
  • Uneven grass terrain with temporary structures
  • Hot weather forecast
  • Camping element
  • Result: Higher medical presentation rate, need for intoxication management, trip hazard mitigation
Indoor Corporate Conference (3,000 attendees):
  • Minimal alcohol, professional environment
  • Climate-controlled venue with level access
  • Older demographic (higher cardiac risk)
  • Result: Lower presentation rate but need for cardiac emergency capability
Sports Ground Event (3,000 attendees):
  • Physical activity increases injury risk
  • Spectator areas with steps and barriers
  • Weather exposure
  • Result: Focus on musculoskeletal injuries and crowd safety
Each requires completely different medical provision, despite identical attendance numbers.

What Your Medical Needs Assessment Must Include

A compliant medical needs assessment should address:

Site Risk Analysis

  • Ground conditions and trip hazards
  • Access routes for emergency vehicles
  • Lighting levels and visibility
  • Weather protection and shelter

Event Risk Factors

  • Activity type and participation level
  • Expected alcohol/substance use
  • Duration and timing
  • Camping or overnight elements
  • Treatment facility specifications
  • Communication and coordination systems

Common Mistakes That Create Liability

Using Last Year’s Assessment Without Review Every event is different. Weather, lineup changes, site modifications, or timing changes all affect medical risk.
Generic Template Approach Downloading a template and filling in attendance numbers isn’t a medical needs assessment – it’s a compliance exercise that won’t protect you when something goes wrong.
Not Involving Medical Professionals Your assessment should be created or reviewed by someone who understands both event dynamics and medical emergencies – not just event management.
Ignoring “Reasonably Foreseeable” Presentations The Purple Guide requires you to plan for medical situations that might “reasonably” occur – not just the most likely scenarios.

Questions Your Assessment Must Answer

Before finalising your medical provision, your assessment should clearly answer:
  • What medical situations might reasonably occur at this specific event?
  • What environmental and site risks could cause injuries?
  • Do we have the right clinical skills for our predicted presentations?
  • Can emergency vehicles access all areas of the site?
  • How will we handle peak demand periods?
  • What happens if our primary medical facility is overwhelmed?

The Legal Reality: Duty of Care

Creating a proper medical needs assessment isn’t just about Purple Guide compliance – it’s about fulfilling your legal duty of care to attendees. If someone is seriously injured at your event and your medical provision is found to be inadequate, the courts will examine whether you conducted a proper risk assessment.
A generic, template-based assessment won’t protect you. A comprehensive, event-specific assessment created by competent professionals will.

Getting It Right: Professional Medical Needs Assessment

A proper medical needs assessment requires:
Medical Expertise: Understanding what medical presentations are likely and what resources are needed to manage them safely.
Event Experience: Knowing how different event types, weather conditions, and site factors affect medical demand.
Purple Guide Knowledge: Understanding the regulatory requirements and how to demonstrate compliance.
Site-Specific Analysis: Evaluating your unique venue, risks, and circumstances.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who should create my medical needs assessment? Someone with both medical knowledge and event experience. Many event organisers lack the clinical understanding to predict medical presentations accurately.
How often should I update my assessment? Any time event factors change – weather, lineup, site layout, timing, or capacity changes all require reassessment.
Can I use the same assessment for different events? No. Each event requires its own specific assessment based on its unique risks and circumstances.

Protect Your Event with Professional Assessment

Don’t risk your event’s safety or your legal compliance with a generic medical needs assessment. Every event is unique, and your medical provision should reflect your specific risks, audience, and site conditions.
We provide comprehensive medical needs assessments that consider all aspects of your event – from crowd dynamics to environmental hazards to regulatory requirements. Our assessments are created by experienced clinicians who understand both Purple Guide requirements and real-world event medical demands.
Ready to ensure your event is properly protected?
Contact us for a professional medical needs assessment that meets Purple Guide requirements and protects your duty of care obligations.
Because when it comes to medical emergencies, proper planning isn’t optional – it’s essential.
Marches Ambulance Service provides Purple Guide compliant medical needs assessments and comprehensive event medical cover across Herefordshire, Worcestershire, and beyond. Contact us at hello@marchesambulance.co.uk or 01568 605110.
Posted on

CQC Registered Event Medical Providers: What You Need to Know

The essential guide for UK event organisers comparing medical providers and why CQC registration could protect your event, your guests, and your reputation.
If you’re organising a large event in the UK with 3,000+ attendees, you’ve probably received quotes from multiple event medical cover providers. On the surface, they all look similar – uniformed staff, medical equipment, and promises of professional cover. But here’s what most event organisers don’t realise: all medical cover looks the same until something goes wrong.
The difference between basic first aid and a CQC-registered event medical provider isn’t just about ticking boxes – it’s about clinical governance, legal protection, and ensuring your duty of care is properly fulfilled when lives are on the line.

What Exactly Is CQC Registration for Event Medical Providers?

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and social care services in England. When an event medical provider is CQC-registered, it means they operate under the same regulatory oversight as NHS services, private hospitals, and GP practices.
But here’s where it gets crucial for event organisers planning festival medical services or large event medical cover: there are two very different types of CQC registration.

Patient Transport vs Treatment of Disease/Injury

Most event medical providers only register for patient transport, essentially moving stable patients from A to B. This is cheaper and easier to maintain, but it’s not what you actually need for professional event medical services.
What you need for comprehensive event medical cover UK standards is registration for treatment of disease and injury, the ability to assess, treat, and make clinical decisions about unwell patients. This requires:
  • Higher clinical standards
  • Regular CQC inspections
  • Robust clinical governance
  • Qualified clinical leadership
  • Comprehensive policies and procedures
At Marches Ambulance Service, we hold both registrations because we understand what event organisers actually need for large event medical cover.

Why CQC Registration Matters for Your UK Event

Legal Protection and Duty of Care

As an event organiser, you have a legal duty of care to provide adequate medical provision. The Purple Guide (Section 5.20) states: “In England, it is highly likely that ambulance services undertaking patient transport services need to be registered with the Care Quality Commission for the provision of such services.”
But professional event medical services go further than transport. When someone collapses at your event, you need a provider who can:
  • Make clinical decisions under pressure
  • Administer appropriate treatments
  • Follow evidence-based protocols
  • Maintain proper clinical records

Insurance and Liability Implications

Your insurance provider expects you to exercise due diligence in selecting competent event medical cover. A CQC-registered provider demonstrates this due diligence through:
  • Medical malpractice insurance (not just public liability)
  • Clinical governance frameworks that reduce risk
  • Regulatory oversight that ensures consistent standards
  • Professional accountability through registered healthcare professionals

Quality Assurance vs “Hope for the Best”

With CQC-registered festival medical services, you’re not hoping your medical team will perform well, you have regulatory assurance that they will. This includes:
  • Clinician-led oversight for complex decisions
  • Standardised protocols for common presentations
  • Regular training and competency assessments
  • Clinical audit and continuous improvement

Event Medical Provider Requirements: What to Look For

Verify Their Registration Type

Don’t just ask if they’re “CQC registered” for event medical cover, ask specifically what they’re registered for. You can verify this yourself on the CQC website by searching for their provider name.
Red flags:
  • Only registered for patient transport
  • Can’t provide their CQC provider ID
  • Vague answers about their registration status
Green flags:
  • Registered for treatment of disease/injury
  • Can provide their CQC provider ID immediately
  • Transparent about their inspection status

Check Their Clinical Leadership

The Purple Guide emphasises that event medical services should have “a leadership structure with a clear hierarchy of responsibilities.” Ask:
  • Who is their clinical lead?
  • What are their qualifications?
  • Will they be present at your event?
At Marches, every service is guided by a senior clinician, ensuring consistent, safe, and effective medical decision-making at all times across Herefordshire, Worcestershire, and Gloucestershire events.

Understand Their Staffing Standards

CQC-registered providers must demonstrate appropriate staffing levels and skill mix for large event medical cover. The Purple Guide references the RCSEd FPHC competency framework, with minimum PHEM D qualifications for unsupervised work at licensed events.
Questions to ask:
  • What qualifications do your staff hold?
  • How do you verify their competency?
  • What’s your staff-to-attendee ratio for my event type?

The Real-World Impact: When Professional Event Medical Services Matter

Consider this scenario: A 45-year-old attendee collapses with chest pain at your festival. The difference between a basic first aid provider and CQC-registered event medical cover could be:
Basic Provider Response:
  • Basic assessment
  • Call 999 and wait
  • Limited treatment options
  • No clinical decision-making authority
CQC-Registered Event Medical Provider Response:
  • Comprehensive clinical assessment
  • 12-lead ECG interpretation
  • Pain management protocols
  • Clinical decision on transport priority
  • Detailed handover to receiving hospital
The CQC-registered provider doesn’t just provide cover – they provide clinical care that could save lives and protect your event from liability.

The Growing UK Regulatory Landscape for Event Medical Cover

The regulatory environment is tightening. Within 12-24 months, CQC regulation will extend to all temporary, cultural, and sporting event venues. Martin’s Law has gained royal assent, requiring enhanced security and medical planning.
Event organisers who choose CQC-registered event medical services now are future-proofing their events against these changes.

Making the Right Choice for Your Event Medical Cover

The question isn’t whether you can afford a CQC-registered event medical provider – it’s whether you can afford not to have one.
Before you make your decision, ask potential providers:
  • “What type of CQC registration do you hold?”
  • “Can you provide your CQC provider ID for verification?”
  • “Who will be your clinical lead at my event?”
  • “What protocols do you follow for medical emergencies?”
  • “How do you ensure clinical governance at events?”
If they can’t answer these questions clearly and confidently, they’re not the right provider for your event medical cover needs.

Frequently Asked Questions About CQC Registration

How do I verify a provider’s CQC registration? Visit the CQC website and search for the provider’s name. Look specifically for “treatment of disease/injury” registration, not just patient transport.
What does CQC registration cost providers? CQC registration fees are significant, plus ongoing inspection costs and compliance requirements. This investment demonstrates commitment to professional standards.
Are all event medical providers required to be CQC registered? Not legally required for all events, but increasingly expected for professional event medical services and recommended by the Purple Guide for larger events.

Get Your Free UK Event Medical Cover Requirements Guide

Want to dive deeper into event medical planning? Download our comprehensive Event Medical Cover Guide packed with practical advice, regulatory requirements, and planning templates specifically for UK events.
[Download Free UK Event Medical Cover Requirements Guide]

Ready to Discuss Your Event’s Medical Needs?

Every event is unique, and your medical provision should reflect your specific risks, audience, and requirements. We provide comprehensive medical needs assessments that consider all aspects of your event – from crowd dynamics to venue layout to activity risks.
Contact us for a no-obligation medical needs assessment and discover how CQC-registered cover can protect your event, your guests, and your reputation.
Because when it comes to medical emergencies, there are no second chances to get it right.
Marches Ambulance Service is CQC-registered for both patient transport and treatment of disease/injury. We provide consultant-led medical cover for events across Herefordshire, Worcestershire, and beyond. Contact us at hello@marchesambulance.co.uk or 01568 605110.

Terms and Conditions - Privacy & Data Protection Policy