Set and Event Medical Provision

If you’re arranging medical cover for a live event, film set or TV production in England, you need to understand when CQC regulation applies.

This guidance explains how to assess whether registration is required, and the impact of forthcoming legal changes.

Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Regulations 2026

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Key Information

Healthcare providers you hire for productions and events don’t just need appropriate medical qualifications. They – or their employer – may also need to be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), depending on the nature of the service being delivered.

The key principle is that it’s the activity, not the qualifications of the individual that determines whether CQC registration is required. Where care involves clinical assessment, diagnosis or treatment beyond basic first aid, it is likely to fall within the scope of ‘regulated activities’.

For example, ‘Treatment of Disease, Disorder or Injury’ (TDDI) is a regulated activity. It applies regardless of whether care is delivered by a doctor, nurse or paramedic. Qualification frameworks such as FREC levels don’t determine whether an activity is regulated, and holding a higher qualification does not in itself permit someone to provide regulated healthcare unless they are operating within a registered provider’s governance structure.

Use our CQC Scope Assessment tool below to show whether your planned medical provision is likely to fall under CQC regulation.

Why This Matters

Understanding whether medical provision falls within CQC scope is essential when planning healthcare cover for events and (some) productions.

In practice, there is often a narrow boundary between basic first aid, and activities that involve clinical judgement. As soon as care moves beyond immediate first aid into assessment, diagnosis, monitoring or treatment it likely falls within the definition of regulated activity, and if it does you need to use a CQC-registered provider.

For example, giving someone paracetamol on request would fall within the definition of first aid. Deciding whether the person should have it based on their symptoms implies clinical judgement and so crosses the line into regulated activity.

This distinction is particularly important where services are being provided by freelance or independent providers, or where medical provision is being arranged on a temporary or event basis. Misunderstanding the boundary can create compliance risks for both providers and those commissioning the service.

So what sort of care is affected? Under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, certain types of care are defined as Regulated Activities – i.e. regulated by the CQC. Activities that often impact productions and events include:

TREATMENT OF DISEASE, DISORDER OR INJURY

Anything beyond basic first aid

TDDI

This regulated activity applies to the treatment of disease, disorder or injury in any setting, including non-clinical ones. TDDI occurs when someone assesses a condition and decides what treatment is needed rather than just giving basic first aid. First aid is ‘help them now‘ – basic, immediate, no diagnosis – whereas TDI is ‘what’s wrong and what should we do‘.

DIAGNOSTIC OR SCEENING PROCEDURES

Including blood pressure checks, pulse oximetry, or assessments

Diagnostics / Screening

Basic observations and non-invasive tests (e.g. checking responsiveness, breathing, pulse or temperature) to decide whether urgent help is required are first aid, not diagnostic or screening procedures. But if equipment or tests are used to assess a condition to inform clinical understanding, monitoring or decision-making, that’s a regulated activity.

TRANSPORT / TRIAGE / REMOTE ADVICE

Including hospital conveyance or video consultations

Transport & Triage

Calling an ambulance is first aid; deciding who gets treated first or transporting patients to hospital as a service (e.g. in a private ambulance) is regulated.

What’s Changing?

Historically, certain types of temporary healthcare provided at sporting and cultural events have been exempt from CQC oversight. The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 removes these exemptions.

In practice, this means that healthcare at events (and on productions involving audiences or public access) will be treated in the same way as healthcare in any other setting. The definition of what constitutes regulated activity isn’t changing – but the exemption that allowed some event provision to sit outside the rules is going.

The regulations come fully into force (and the exemption disappears) on 6^th December 2027.

Film and TV productions with crew and cast only (even with some extras or contributors) aren’t covered by the events exemption in most cases – because these would still be classed primarily as workplaces, not events with public access or participation.

Set Medical Provision

If a medic is providing medical cover on a closed set (e.g. film or TV production with no audience or public access), the event exemption does not apply – and the same regulatory rules apply as in any other setting.

The legal position has long been clear: any care that goes beyond basic first aid into clinical assessment (including the use or interpretation of medical equipment), diagnosis or treatment will generally be treated as regulated activity and must be delivered by, or under the control of, a CQC-registered provider.

This applies regardless of the individual’s professional background or qualifications. An off-duty NHS paramedic, nurse or doctor working independently on a set is not covered by their NHS role and can’t carry out regulated activities unless operating within a registered provider’s governance structure.

In practice, this means non-CQC registered set medics must be limited to basic first aid, immediate life-saving assistance, calling emergency services and handing over care.

They shouldn’t carry out clinical assessment (including the use or interpretation of medical equipment), diagnosis or clinical decision-making; provide treatment beyond basic first aid (including oxygen therapy, administration of medicines, or any intervention requiring clinical judgement); take, monitor or interpret physiological observations (e.g. oxygen saturation, pulse, blood pressure) where these inform decisions about treatment, escalation or return to work; determine or advise whether an individual is fit to continue working or return to duties; or transport patients to hospital outside of emergency services

Essentially, if a medic is using clinical judgement informed by observations, equipment or training to decide on treatment, escalation or return to work, this is likely to be considered the provision of medical treatment rather than first aid.

You can use the CQC Scope Assessment Tool below to check whether the type of care being planned may fall within regulated activity.

What This Means In Practice

The removal of the event exemption means that where care at events goes beyond basic first aid, it will need to be delivered by (or under the control of) a CQC-registered provider. The definition of regulated activity hasn’t changed, but the removal of the event exemption closes grey area that has tolerated some unregistered healthcare at events.

Basic first aid, welfare support and similar non-clinical assistance remain outside the scope of regulation. However, where care involves clinical assessment, treatment, monitoring or triage, it’s much more likely to fall within a regulated activity, regardless of whether it is delivered in a permanent healthcare setting or as part of a temporary event.

The definition of regulated activity does not materially change, but the removal of the event exemption closes a context-dependent grey area that has tolerated some unregistered healthcare at events.

In practice, the distinction often depends on whether the activity involves clinical judgement. The same task can fall either side of the line, depending on how and why it’s carried out:

Examples

Out of scope (first aid)	Likely in scope (regulated activity)
Giving paracetamol for a headache on request	Assessing symptoms and selecting medication based on clinical judgement
Providing oxygen for reassurance	Administering oxygen to treat a suspected medical condition
Applying a simple dressing	Assessing a wound and deciding on appropriate treatment
Helping someone to rest and recover	Assessing fitness to continue based on clinical judgement
Observing someone who feels unwell	Checking and interpreting vital signs to inform decisions

What about a TV show with an invited audience?

If the invitees are spectators (e.g. for a comedy, talent or talk show) and first aid provision is available to the audience (not just cast / crew), this looks awfully like a ‘cultural event’ as described in the current exemption, so basic first aid remains out of scope, but any care that goes beyond first aid into clinical assessment, treatment or triage may fall within regulated activity, and so from December 2027 would need to be delivered by (or under) a CQC-registered provider.

But what about other situations? Use our lookup below, and there are more resources further down the page.

Myth vs Reality

Myth	Reality
These new regulations create new rules about what set medics and event medics can do.	The definitions of regulated activities has been in place since the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and the 2014 Regulations. The law hasn’t fundamentally changed – what’s changing is the removal of certain exemptions, particularly for events.
Qualified clinicians (e.g. paramedics, nurses, doctors) can provide medical care on set without restriction.	CQC regulation is based on the activity being carried out, not the qualification of the individual. Even highly qualified clinicians must be working under a CQC-registered provider to carry out any regulated activities.
I’m professionally qualified and this is within the scope of my clinical practice and experience.	Professional scope of practice and regulatory scope are not the same. Even if a clinician is competent and authorised by their professional body, they cannot carry out regulated activities unless they are working under a CQC-registered provider.
I’m covered by my NHS role or professional registration.	CQC registration applies to the provider delivering the service, not the individual. Working on a freelance or independent basis outside your NHS or primary employer role does not bring that registration with you.
If it’s a closed set or workplace, CQC rules don’t apply.	Workplace settings are not exempt from regulation. Basic first aid is permitted, but any care involving clinical assessment, diagnosis or treatment may require CQC registration. See also ‘Occupational Health’ below.
If I’m only doing low-level clinical tasks, it won’t count as regulated activity.	There is no ‘low-level’ exemption for clinical care. Activities such as clinical assessment, triage, monitoring vital signs or making treatment decisions may all fall within regulated activity, even if they appear routine.
These changes mean all first aid at events will require CQC registration.	Basic first aid remains out of scope. However, once the event exemption is removed in December 2027, any care that goes beyond first aid at events must be delivered by, or under, a CQC-registered provider.
This only affects large public events like festivals or sports matches.	As currently drafted, the changes apply broadly to settings where healthcare is provided to audiences or members of the public, including smaller events and productions with invited audiences.
If no one complains or nothing goes wrong, it won’t be an issue.	CQC regulation is a legal requirement, not a reactive one. The requirement to be registered depends on the activity being carried out, not the outcome.
If the production or event organiser hires me, they are responsible for compliance.	Responsibility depends on who is providing the regulated activity. In many cases, the provider delivering the healthcare service – whether an individual or organisation – must be appropriately registered.

Further Information

'Duty of Care' Dilemma

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) duty of care applies to everyone on a production or at an event – it’s the legal requirement to ensure people’s health, safety and welfare through risk assessment, competent staff, and safe systems of work. It covers everything from stunts to catering to security, and includes the provision of first aid.

By contrast, CQC registration applies only when an organisation or individual carries on a regulated healthcare activity, such as diagnosing, treating, or prescribing for illness or injury. It’s not about general safety or workplace risk, but about clinical governance and patient care standards.

In short, the HSE duty of care protects everyone on set or at an event, while CQC registration governs the delivery of clinical treatment. Productions and events must comply with both: HSE for overall safety, and CQC wherever healthcare moves beyond first aid.

What Is First Aid?

This is an important distinction because it is far too easy to inadvertently cross the threshold from First Aid to Regulated Activity. The CQC are very prescriptive about this and take a dim view of people identifying as ‘first aiders’ as a means to evade the quite onerous task of CQC registration.

It’s important that productions and events have a scope of work in place for first aid providers – if they don’t, and the provider carries out a Regulated Activity, the production could face legal jeopardy too. From December 2027 this extends to events, too – but it’s sensible to consider this now.

Essentially, it doesn’t matter what you call it, it’s the activity that counts. This is how the CQC defines First Aid:

First aid is the initial response to a sudden illness, condition or injury or exacerbation of an existing illness, restricted to the aim of either alleviating it immediately through simple procedures and/or preventing it from worsening until professional medical help is available.

First Aiders are limited to only assessing the need for onward referral for treatment, and the CQC also says health care professionals cannot use “other specialist skills that reflect their professional training“, only those skills from their first aid training.

For more detailed information, please refer to the CQC website.

Template First Aid Scope of Work

This will help you define the scope of first aid provision to help ensure it doesn’t slip into Regulated Activities.

This is premium content. To read further, take a look at our Retainer Client packages.

What Is Occupational Health?

According to the CQC, medical or dental service occupational health schemes that:

Do not involve treatment requiring admission to hospital;
Are organised through an employer;
Were these are for the benefit of the employee only;

…are exempt from the need for registration. But anyone treating a mix of people at events or productions should not rely on the occupational health exemption as a blanket justification for avoiding CQC registration.

Let’s break down what the CQC actually says:

Requirement	Explanation
Organised through an employer	The healthcare is arranged as a formal occupational health scheme by the employer – not ad hoc, not outsourced without structure.
For the benefit of the employee only	Only employees of the organisation can access the service. Care for freelancers, contractors, contributors or the public is outside scope.
Structured Scheme	The care forms part of a structured health programme (e.g. screening, ongoing assessments), not reactive emergency or walk-up care.
No treatment requiring hospital admission	Any service that includes treatment escalating to hospital care is no longer considered exempt occupational health.

So if set or event medics are making clinical judgements (such as return-to-work decisions, wound assessment etc), if they’re treating contributors, freelancers, or audience members, if medication is administered, if equipment like pulse oximeters or ECGs are used – and there’s no formal occupational health provider involved, it’s not occupational health.

Argument	Flaw
“We’re only here for the crew”	Without a structured OH contract this is just workplace first aid or ad hoc triage, not occupational health.
“We’re acting in a preventative role”	Unless this is part of a formal, employer-run health programme, it’s reactive care, not prevention.
“We don’t treat the public”	Even treating contributors, freelancers, or anyone outside direct employment invalidates the exemption.
“We’re only providing first aid”	If clinical judgement, diagnostics, or medicines are involved, it crosses into regulated activity under TDDI.
“The employer pays us”	Payment by an employer doesn’t make it an occupational health scheme. The structure and scope of care matter more than who is paying.

Corporate Events

You may think an invitation-only corporate event would be out of scope, but that’s not always the case. Even if your guest list is curated and the venue is private, the CQC may still require registration if non-staff (such as clients, press, members of the public) receive healthcare beyond basic first aid.

With the proposed removal of exemptions for temporary healthcare at cultural events, corporate functions involving audiences or guests will increasingly fall within scope if the healthcare provided involves triage, diagnostics, or clinical judgement.

Other Special Cases

Immersive or Interactive Experiences

Examples: interactive theatre, escape rooms, live-action roleplay (LARP), immersive documentaries.

Risk: if participants are also receiving triage, treatment or medical oversight (e.g. heat exhaustion, anxiety interventions), this may be within scope, especially when the public is involved.

Medical Content and Reality TV

Examples: medical documentaries, shows with health interventions (e.g. weight loss, cosmetic surgery, therapy), reality TV with wellness checks.

Risk: often clearly in scope, especially if there’s clinical assessment, mental health screening, or medical decision-making. Even temporary or remote care could be regulated.

Residential Filming or Extended Production Bubbles

Examples: shows filmed over multiple days with contestants or contributors staying on location.

Risk: long-term welfare often includes medical support, physiotherapy, mental health triage etc. If this care exceeds basic first aid, it’s likely within scope.

Territorial Restrictions

The Care Quality Commission regulates activities carried on in England under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

It does not regulate work delivered outside England, even if the provider is England-based – Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland have their own regulators (HIW, HIS, RQIA). Outside the UK, no CQC jurisdiction applies at all.

If a UK provider sends medics overseas, the provider’s CQC registration applies only to activities carried on in England. When their staff work abroad, they operate outside that regulatory framework. The CQC registration doesn’t ‘travel’ with them and they can’t claim to be delivering CQC-regulated care while overseas – but their own governance, clinical protocols, and insurance still apply.

Wales: Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW)

Regulator under the Care Standards Act 2000 and Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003.

Oversees NHS and independent healthcare providers in Wales. It has no direct equivalent to CQC registration, but independent clinics and private medical providers must register with HIW. Event medical providers in Wales may fall under HIW if they offer treatment, though the framework is less prescriptive than the CQC’s.

Scotland: Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS)

Established under the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010.

HIS regulates independent healthcare services, including clinics and hospitals, in Scotland. NHS Scotland services are inspected but not ‘registered’. Event or production medical providers offering treatment may require registration as an independent clinic.

Northern Ireland: Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA)

Established under the Health and Personal Social Services (Quality, Improvement and Regulation) Order 2003.

RQIA regulates independent health and social care services in Northern Ireland. Providers offering medical treatment, diagnostics, or similar activities must be registered with RQIA.

Outside the UK

Productions must still ensure competent medical provision under HSE principles (as far as reasonably practicable) and local law where filming occurs. Always check local regulations: some countries restrict who can provide medical treatment or require local registration, especially for prescription drugs or emergency care.

Best practice:

Use registered providers to assure governance framework.
Confirm insurance covers overseas work.
Ensure local compliance where treatment is delivered.
Treat the service as unregulated under UK law, but still bound by UK duty of care and ethical standards.

Advice to Productions

Golden Rule: it’s the activity that’s regulated not the qualification.

We can’t stress this enough: first aid remains out of scope.

But on a closed set (possibly with contributors, extras but no audience or members of the public) these rules already apply to anything beyond first aid. But from 6^th December 2027, healthcare at sporting or cultural events that goes beyond first aid will no longer benefit from the current event exemption and becomes regulated activity.

Check Provider Status

Ask for their CQC registration number, or confirm that their work is limited to first aid only (and have this defined in a written contract so if a provider crosses the line into a Regulated Activity the liability rests with them).
If they are providing a Regulated Activity make sure their registration covers the activity they’re being contracted for. Remember that FREC levels / other medical qualifications are not related to regulation requirements.
Duty of care is not the same as CQC scope. The HSE governs safety and competence, CQC governs clinical care. You need to cover both.

What productions should do:

Prepare for the new rules now.
Audit medical providers and confirm CQC status. Ask for their registration number and scope of regulated activity.
Define scope of service in contracts with providers. Clarify whether the provider is delivering first aid or regulated treatment – if they are contracted to provide first aid only but veer into regulated territory, this will help protect you.
Verify clinical governance arrangements are in place. You don’t need to assess that yourself (that’s the CQC’s job) but ensure the provider can evidence governance through CQC registration.

External Resources

CQC Regulated Activities

Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations

Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Regulations 2026

Contact Care Quality Commission

Specialist: Ben Teden

Ben is a health and safety consultant with a background in front line ambulance operations as a Paramedic. With hands-on experience as a medic and COVID supervisor on a range of film and TV productions, he brings practical, production-focused insight to every project.

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Article last updated on Apr 22nd, 2026

Set and Event Medical Provision

Set and Event Medical Provision