Medical Requirements
Last updated:The Purple Guide advises medical staffing provision as follows:
First Responder-led service
Description: Small event, typically fewer than 2,000 attendees. No significant problems expected.
Crew: 2 first responders for up to 500 attendees, 4 first responders for up to 2000 attendees, 1 manager.
Consider: Paramedics, ECPs or ENPs to increase casualty assessment and stabilisation, site ambulance, and crew if event held across a large area.
Paramedic or Nurse-led service
Description: Small event, typically fewer than 2,000 to 10,000 attendees. Low-risk significant problems.
Crew: 1–2 paramedics, 2–4 nurses, 2 first responders per 4,000 attendees, 1 manager.
Consider: Doctor, site ambulance(s) and crew(s), Rapid Responder Vehicle.
Doctor-led service
Description: Medium-sized event, typically 10,000 to 20,000 attendees.
Crew: 1-2 doctors, 2-4 nurses or ENPs, 1-2 paramedics or ECPs, 2 first responders / 5000 attendees, 1 site ambulance and crew, 1 Rapid Response Vehicle, 1 road ambulance and crew for off-site transfers only, 1 manager.
Consider: On-site liaison and control facility, second road ambulance if transfer times prolonged.
Emergency Medicine doctor-led cover with specialised support
Description: Large, often complex event, typically 20,000 to 100,000 attendees – maybe many more. Significant risk of high acuity presentations, substance misuse and disorderly behaviour.
Crew: 2 doctors/25,000 attendees, 4 nurses/25,000 attendees, 2 paramedics/25,000 attendees, 2-4 first responders/25,000 attendees, 1-2 site ambulances and crew/50,000 attendees, 1-2 road ambulances and crew/ 100,000 attendees for off-site transfers only, 1-2 Rapid Response Vehicles, On-site liaison and control facility, Management team.