Top 5 tips on Choosing Event Medical Cover in the UK
Make sure the company is CQC Registered.
CQC used to be an optional or nice to have back in the day! Small events could rely on the NHS ambulance service to transport patients to hospital. This have changed and it is a requirement not to impact the local NHS Ambulance service. Its also as clear as day in The Purple Guide (thepurpleguide.co.uk). Companies that aren’t CQC registered aren’t legally allowed to transfer patients to hospital and that includes in an emergency. Think of a really bad leak and the plumber turns up but doesn’t have any tools.
Check their Ratings
Ratings can be found on the CQC website. “Good” is Good, only one or two private ambulance services have been rated outstanding in history. (MET Medical are hoping to be next time we are inspected) If the service is rated inadequate or requires improvement, then take that as an alarm signal. Being rated inadequate means there have been significant issues which usually the provider is not meeting the requirements of the Health and Social Care Act.Check on Experience
Is the company able to carry out the job at hand? Does the management team have experience with events? Are clinicians employed in the senior team? Do they know how to deal with major incidents when they occur? Large events will have emergencies occur, and smaller events will still have the risk of emergencies and major incidents.
Can you ensure reliability?
The last thing you need is to have thousands of attendees arrive for your event but for the medical cover not to. Every year, we receive panic calls from event organisers who are dealing with the difficult decision of whether or not to continue without adequate medical coverage or to curtail their event due to the medical provider not turning up or not having the required provision. In so many cases, this can almost put an event planner or festival organiser out of business.
Pick the right partner and stick with them.
Partnering with a medical provider is a bit like a marriage rather than a casual partner. Once you find the right supplier, working together in a long-term relationship pays dividends. Medical providers should constantly improve and learn from any mistakes. Working year after year with the right partner can be hugely beneficial, from improving consumer satisfaction to reducing the risks of adverse incidents and deaths as well as litigation. Whilst we all have insurance in place for a reason, it's best not to have to claim. Large events are more and more prone to litigation from members of the public seeking no-win, no-fee lawyers for things like minor trips and slips. The right medical provider is another layer of safety and protection.