The Care Quality Commission has published new guidance confirming a significant change for organisations providing healthcare and medical treatment at sporting, cultural and other events.

Following changes to the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, healthcare and treatment delivered at event sites can now fall within the scope of CQC regulation.

For many event healthcare providers, this means CQC registration will now be a legal requirement.

What has changed?

Historically, specific exemptions meant that healthcare and treatment delivered at sporting and cultural events generally fell outside the scope of the regulated activity Treatment of Disease, Disorder or Injury (TDDI).

Those exemptions have now been removed.

Where an organisation provides treatment for a disease, disorder or injury which meets the criteria for TDDI, the provider responsible for delivering that care will need to be registered with CQC.

This can include healthcare delivered at:

• Festivals
• Concerts and music events
• Sporting events
• Sports grounds and stadiums
• Gymnasiums
• Nightclubs
• Parks and outdoor events
• Temporary event sites and venues

The requirement relates to the healthcare provider delivering the regulated activity. CQC is not registering the event itself or the event organiser simply because an event is taking place.

Which event healthcare providers need to register?

CQC registration will generally be required where a provider is delivering treatment for a disease, disorder or injury and that treatment is:

• Provided by or under the supervision of a healthcare professional included within CQC’s defined professional categories; or
• Provided by a multidisciplinary team which includes an appropriate healthcare professional supervising the treatment in their professional capacity.

This means organisations providing more substantial clinical or medical services at events need to carefully assess whether the care they deliver falls within TDDI.

There remain exemptions, including certain forms of first aid provision, so providers should review the exact nature of their service rather than assuming that every form of event first aid requires registration.

However, where healthcare professionals are expected to use their professional skills to provide or supervise treatment that meets the definition of TDDI, the provider is likely to fall within CQC’s regulatory scope.

When does this take effect?

CQC has introduced a phased implementation period.

7 September 2026

Providers can begin submitting applications to register with CQC.

1 March 2027

CQC has advised that fully completed applications submitted on or before this date will be prioritised with the aim of providing an outcome before the new regulatory regime takes full effect.

6 December 2027

CQC will begin regulating TDDI delivered at event sites under the new requirements.

From this date, it will be an offence to carry on the regulated activity of TDDI at an event site without the required CQC registration.

Providers therefore have a transition period, but organisations that are likely to require registration should begin preparing well in advance.

Already registered with CQC?

Existing CQC-registered providers should not assume that no action is required.

If an organisation is already registered for TDDI, it may not need to submit an entirely new provider registration. However, it should review whether its existing registration accurately covers the event healthcare services it intends to provide.

This could include:

• Reviewing registered locations
• Considering whether a variation to registration is required
• Updating the Statement of Purpose
• Reviewing regulated activities and conditions of registration
• Ensuring governance arrangements appropriately cover event healthcare
• Evidencing appropriate clinical oversight, staffing and competency arrangements

What will CQC expect?

Registration is more than completing an application form.

Providers will need to demonstrate that the organisation is properly established, governed and capable of delivering safe and compliant healthcare.

Depending on the service, this is likely to include consideration of areas such as:

• Clinical governance
• Safeguarding
• Medicines management
• Recruitment and safer staffing
• Professional registrations and competencies
• Training and supervision
• Infection prevention and control
• Risk management
• Incident reporting
• Patient records
• Consent and capacity
• Duty of Candour
• Complaints
• Emergency procedures
• Equipment and medical devices
• Policies and procedures
• Quality assurance and auditing
• Leadership and accountability

CQC’s existing TDDI guidance confirms that the regulated activity covers a wide range of treatment, including emergency treatment and treatment for physical and mental health conditions.

How HLTH Compliance can support event healthcare providers

HLTH Compliance supports healthcare organisations across England with CQC registration, compliance and ongoing regulatory assurance.

For event medical and healthcare providers affected by these changes, we can support with the complete registration process, including:

• Determining whether your service falls within the scope of CQC registration
• Establishing the correct legal entity and registration structure
• Identifying the appropriate regulated activities
• Provider registration applications
• Registered Manager applications
• Statement of Purpose preparation
• Location and service configuration
• Policies and procedures
• Clinical governance frameworks
• Risk and quality assurance systems
• Registration documentation
• CQC interview preparation
• Pre-submission application reviews
• Ongoing CQC compliance support following registration

For organisations that are already registered, we can also review your existing registration and advise whether a variation, additional location, updated Statement of Purpose or wider governance changes are required.

Do not leave registration until the deadline

Although CQC regulation of event-based TDDI will not formally begin until December 2027, applications can be submitted from September 2026.

Providers submitting fully completed applications by 1 March 2027 have the strongest prospect of receiving a registration decision before the regulatory deadline.

Organisations delivering event healthcare should therefore use the transition period to establish whether registration is required and ensure that their governance, documentation and operational arrangements are capable of meeting CQC’s requirements.

Need support with CQC registration for an event healthcare service?

HLTH Compliance can review your current service model, confirm the likely registration requirements and support you through the complete CQC registration process.

Whether you provide healthcare at festivals, sporting events, concerts, stadiums, temporary venues or other event environments, our team can help you become registered, compliant and regulator-ready.

Contact HLTH Compliance to discuss your event healthcare service and CQC registration requirements.