CQC Registration for Event Medical Services: New TDDI Requirements Explained
Updated: 5 days ago
CQC registration requirements for event medical services are changing. New guidance from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) means that some organisations providing healthcare and medical treatment at sporting, cultural and other events in England may now need to register for the regulated activity of Treatment of disease, disorder or injury (TDDI).
The changes could affect event medical companies, private ambulance providers, healthcare organisations and other providers delivering clinical treatment at events.
CQC published its new supporting guidance in August 2026 following changes to the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.
Applications under the new arrangements opened on 7 September 2026, with the requirements being introduced in stages ahead of CQC’s regulatory monitoring, assessment, inspection and enforcement powers under the new arrangements beginning on 6 December 2027.
For event healthcare providers, now is the time to establish whether your activities fall within the scope of CQC registration and, where necessary, begin preparing your organisation for registration.
Why are the CQC requirements for event medical services changing?
Historically, the regulatory position surrounding healthcare delivered at sporting and cultural events has not always been straightforward.
The Government has now changed the regulations, bringing more healthcare and treatment delivered at events within the scope of the regulated activity Treatment of disease, disorder or injury (TDDI).
CQC subsequently consulted on proposed guidance between 9 May and 19 June 2026. The regulator received 229 survey responses, alongside feedback from focus groups, organisations and individuals.
Following the consultation, CQC updated its Scope of Registration guidance and published specific supporting guidance for organisations delivering TDDI at events.
The central principle is important:
Providing healthcare at an event does not automatically mean that an organisation requires CQC registration.
Registration depends on the nature of the activities being provided, who provides them, the circumstances in which they are provided and whether the activities meet the legal definition of a regulated activity.
Providers should therefore assess their actual model of care rather than assuming that they either are, or are not, required to register.
What is Treatment of Disease, Disorder or Injury?
Treatment of disease, disorder or injury is one of the regulated activities established under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.
Often abbreviated to TDDI, it covers certain forms of healthcare and treatment provided by, or under the supervision of, specified healthcare professionals.
The updated CQC Scope of Registration guidance now specifically addresses healthcare and treatment delivered at events.
This means an event medical provider needs to consider exactly what its clinical team is expected to do.
For example, there is an important distinction between providing basic first aid and providing clinical assessment and treatment that falls within TDDI.
This distinction means that providers should not base their decision simply on the name of their service. Calling a service “event first aid”, for example, does not necessarily determine its regulatory status.
CQC will be interested in what the organisation actually provides.
Is first aid at an event regulated by CQC?
Not necessarily.
CQC’s updated Scope of Registration guidance provides further clarification around what it understands to constitute first aid.
This is particularly important because genuine first aid may fall outside the requirement to register for TDDI.
However, event medical providers should carefully consider whether their activities extend beyond first aid.
An organisation providing basic first aid may have a very different regulatory position from a provider deploying healthcare professionals who assess, diagnose or clinically treat illness and injury at an event.
Providers should therefore review matters such as:
who delivers the care
the qualifications and professional registration of staff
what clinical assessments staff undertake
what treatment can be provided
what medicines are carried and administered
what clinical equipment is available
the procedures staff are authorised to perform
whether healthcare professionals supervise other members of the team
how patients are referred or transferred for further treatment.
Your website, service specification, contracts, policies, Statement of Purpose and actual clinical practice should also accurately reflect the service you provide.
Which events could be affected?
The new requirements are particularly relevant to organisations providing healthcare and treatment at events.
Depending on the circumstances and activities undertaken, this could potentially include healthcare provision at:
Sporting events, such as races, tournaments, stadium events and other organised sporting activities.
Cultural and entertainment events, including concerts, festivals and similar gatherings.
Other organised events where healthcare professionals or medical providers are contracted to provide treatment.
However, the fact that healthcare takes place at an event is only part of the assessment.
The nature of the treatment and the legal structure of the service must also be considered.
CQC’s new supporting guidance includes examples designed to help organisations understand how the requirements apply in different scenarios.
Who actually needs to register with CQC?
One of the most important questions is identifying the provider of the regulated activity.
This is not necessarily the event organiser.
CQC’s wider Scope of Registration guidance asks organisations to establish who is legally responsible for “carrying on” the regulated activity. In practical terms, this means identifying the person, partnership or organisation with overall direction and control of the regulated activity.
For example, an event organiser might contract a separate medical company to provide all healthcare services at an event.
The registration position would need to be considered in relation to the organisation actually carrying on the regulated activity.
This can become more complicated where several organisations are involved, such as an event organiser, medical provider, ambulance company, subcontracted clinicians and NHS services.
Contracts and governance arrangements should make responsibilities clear.
What should existing CQC registered providers do?
Organisations already registered with CQC should not automatically assume that their existing registration covers event healthcare.
Providers should review:
their existing regulated activities
their registered locations
their Statement of Purpose
their service types
the activities being delivered at events
their governance arrangements.
CQC specifically states that during the first implementation stage, existing providers already registered for TDDI can update their Statement of Purpose where necessary.
This is therefore a useful opportunity to review whether your current registration accurately reflects the services you provide.
When do event medical providers need to register?
CQC has established a staged implementation process.
From 7 September 2026
Providers can submit applications to register with CQC under the new requirements.
Existing providers already registered for TDDI can also review and update their Statement of Purpose where necessary.
7 September 2026 to 1 March 2027
This is the initial registration period identified by CQC for providers to submit applications and make the necessary changes.
A further period will then allow CQC to process applications before the legislation takes full effect.
6 December 2027
CQC states that its regulatory monitoring, assessment and inspection activity and enforcement powers under the new requirements will begin from 6 December 2027.
Providers should avoid leaving registration preparation until the final stages.
CQC registration can require significant preparation, particularly where an organisation has not previously operated within the CQC regulatory framework.
What will event medical providers need for CQC registration?
CQC registration involves considerably more than completing an application form.
CQC states that applicants must demonstrate that they will provide services that are safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led.
The regulator’s current new-provider guidance requires all provider applicants to submit a range of supporting documents. These include:
Statement of Purpose
safeguarding policy and procedure
complaints policy
consent policy and procedure
infection prevention and control policy
governance and quality assurance policies
recruitment policy
medicines management and prescribing policy, including transportation of patient medication
equality, diversity and human rights policy
public and employer liability insurance evidence
building control documentation where applicable.
Depending on the provider and service model, additional supporting evidence may also be required.
Event healthcare providers should ensure these documents are bespoke to the service they intend to operate.
Generic policies downloaded from the internet are unlikely to demonstrate effectively how your organisation will manage the specific risks associated with event healthcare.
Governance for event healthcare providers
Providers entering CQC regulation for the first time should pay particular attention to clinical governance.
An event healthcare provider may need systems covering areas such as:
Clinical governance: How does the organisation oversee the quality and safety of clinical care?
Staff competency: How are qualifications, professional registrations, experience and competencies checked?
Medicines management: How are medicines obtained, stored, transported, administered, recorded and disposed of safely?
Safeguarding: Can staff identify and respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns involving adults and children?
Infection prevention and control: How are IPC risks managed in temporary or event environments?
Clinical records: How are patient records created, stored, transferred and retained securely?
Incident management: How are incidents, near misses and significant events reported, investigated and used for learning?
Emergency escalation: When should patients be transferred to NHS ambulance services or hospital?
Equipment: How does the organisation ensure clinical equipment is appropriate, maintained and available when required?
Risk management: How are clinical and operational risks identified and reviewed for different event environments?
These systems should work in practice, not simply exist as written policies.
Will CQC interview the Registered Manager?
Where a registered manager is required, the manager application normally forms part of the registration process.
CQC’s current registration process can include several assessment activities, including:
a Site Visit Assessment
a Nominated Individual Discussion.
The exact assessment activities will depend on the provider and application.
Registered Managers should be able to demonstrate that they understand the service, its risks, relevant regulations and the systems used to maintain safe and effective care.
For an event medical provider, preparation should include a detailed understanding of the organisation’s clinical governance arrangements and the particular challenges of delivering healthcare in event environments.
What should event medical providers do now?
If you provide medical services at sporting, cultural or other events, the first step is to establish whether the activities you provide meet the criteria for TDDI.
You should then review your organisational structure and identify who is legally responsible for carrying on the regulated activity.
If registration is required, preparation should include reviewing your leadership arrangements, policies, governance systems, staff competencies, clinical procedures, medicines management, safeguarding arrangements and Statement of Purpose.
Existing CQC providers should also establish whether their current registration and Statement of Purpose accurately describe their event healthcare activities.
Most importantly, do not wait until the new requirements are fully enforceable before considering registration.
CQC registration applications are assessed in detail, and CQC states that incomplete applications or applications containing incorrect information cannot be processed.
Planning a CQC application? See my CQC registration support.
Need support with CQC registration for event medical services?
Understanding whether event healthcare falls within CQC regulation can be complex, particularly where an organisation provides a mixture of first aid, healthcare professional-led treatment, ambulance services or subcontracted clinical services.
I provide specialist CQC registration support for healthcare organisations, helping providers prepare their registration applications and demonstrate that their service is ready to meet CQC requirements.
Support can include:
reviewing whether your proposed service model is reflected correctly within your registration application
preparing the provider application
Registered Manager application support
developing your Statement of Purpose
identifying required supporting documents
reviewing policies and governance systems
preparing for the Registered Manager Fit Person Interview
preparing the Nominated Individual for CQC discussions
mock assessment and registration readiness support.
If you are an event medical provider affected by the new CQC requirements, preparing early gives you time to identify gaps and develop the governance arrangements needed before your application is assessed.
Find out more about my CQC Registration Application Support and how I can support your organisation through the registration process. Related reading: First Aid or TDDI? CQC Registration and Exceptions for Event Medical Services.
This article is intended as general guidance and does not constitute legal advice. Whether CQC registration is required depends on the activities being carried on and the circumstances of the individual provider. Providers should review the current legislation and CQC Scope of Registration guidance when determining their registration requirements.
Comments