What Medical Cover Do You Need for a Small Music Festival?
Planning a music festival—whether it's a local community gathering or a boutique ticketed event—requires careful thought about safety, licensing, and medical provision. While the vibes might be about fun and freedom, behind the scenes, organisers carry significant responsibilities. One of the most important? Making sure the right medical cover is in place.
In this blog, we’ll break down what’s required for a small music festival in the UK, referring to the Purple Guide, CQC regulation, SAG requirements, and new Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) health standards in development. Most importantly, we’ll explore how responsible event organisers can avoid placing additional pressure on the already stretched NHS.
Start With the Purple Guide
The Purple Guide is the go-to resource for event organisers when planning health, safety, and welfare arrangements. It provides a framework for determining medical cover based on risk factors such as:
Audience size and demographic
Event duration and layout
Location (rural/urban)
Access to emergency services
Availability of alcohol or drugs
Historical incident data
For a small music festival (typically under 5,000 attendees), the guide may suggest basic first aid provision for lower-risk events, scaling up to paramedics and treatment centres if additional risks are identified. It’s not one-size-fits-all; medical planning should be tailored based on a dynamic risk assessment.
Importantly, the Purple Guide makes clear that event organisers must appoint a medical provider who is suitably qualified and experienced for the scale and nature of the event. This means ensuring the provider has the appropriate clinical governance structure, registered professionals, and capability to manage likely scenarios—rather than relying solely on volunteers or basic first aid.
Upcoming Changes in Regulation: CQC and DHSC
Currently, medical providers offering pre-hospital care at events must be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) if their activities fall under the scope of regulated services—such as treatment of disease, disorder or injury, or transport in an emergency.
Upcoming changes to CQC guidance are expected to tighten the oversight of event medical providers. With increased focus on governance, quality assurance, and proper training, festival organisers should ensure their provider is CQC-registered and compliant with current legislation.
In parallel, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is working on national pre-hospital care standards. These aim to bring greater consistency and accountability to the private ambulance and event medical sectors. While still in draft, they are expected to mirror NHS clinical standards—another reason to choose a provider committed to quality, governance, and clinical excellence.
Avoiding Pressure on the NHS
A responsible event plan should not rely on the NHS to fill gaps. In recent years, A&E departments and ambulance services have faced unprecedented demand, and festivals—even small ones—must ensure they are self-sufficient in managing minor injuries, intoxication, and crowd-related incidents.
Calling 999 because a patient cannot be treated onsite is avoidable if the right provider is in place. At MET, our teams are trained to manage minor to moderate issues on-site, reducing unnecessary hospital visits and keeping NHS resources available for true emergencies.
SAG Meetings and Licensing
If you're running a public event, especially one involving large crowds, loud music, or alcohol, you may be required to attend a Safety Advisory Group (SAG) meeting. These are multi-agency panels typically made up of local authority representatives, the police, fire service, ambulance service, and health and safety officers.
The SAG evaluates your event plan—including medical provision—to ensure risks are properly managed. For licensed events, appropriate medical cover is not just best practice; it’s a legal requirement under your Premises Licence or Temporary Event Notice (TEN). Having an experienced, regulated medical provider on board can make these discussions smoother and give reassurance to the authorities.
What Should You Look for in a Medical Provider?
When choosing a medical provider for your festival, ask the following:
Are they CQC-registered (if required)?
Do they provide qualified clinicians, including paramedics, nurses, and first aiders?
Can they supply treatment centres, defibrillators, oxygen therapy, and medical consumables?
Do they offer post-event reporting and incident management?
Are they experienced in working with SAGs and event medical planning?
Can they scale with your event’s size and risk profile?
At MET Medical, we provide clinically-led, professional medical services tailored to your event’s specific needs. We believe in delivering care that is safe, responsive, and avoids unnecessary strain on NHS resources.
Final Thoughts
Organising a festival is exciting, but with that comes responsibility. Medical provision isn’t just about ticking a licensing box—it’s about protecting your guests, your team, and your reputation.
With guidance from the Purple Guide, upcoming CQC and DHSC standards, and the expectations of your local SAG, choosing the right medical cover is essential. And most importantly, it’s a decision that could save a life.
If you’re planning an event and want expert support from a trusted medical partner, get in touch with MET Medical. Let’s make your festival safe, seamless, and successful.