The role of a strategic health advisor
I often get asked that question:
“So… what do you actually do?”
To be fair, “Strategic Health Advisor” sounds like I might spend my days in a high-tech bunker planning the nation’s five-year strategy for sticking plasters. The truth is my work is a mix of harm reduction, medical logistics, crowd dynamics, weather-watching, and occasionally reminding people that duct tape is not an acceptable substitute for proper medical equipment.
Here’s my one-minute elevator pitch:
I advise and support festivals and events on their harm reduction strategy and their onsite medical provision, ensuring best value for money and the highest quality of care.
Sounds neat and tidy. But behind that sentence is a whole lot of thinking, planning, and connecting the right dots before the first ticket is scanned.
Prevention first
Prevention is not just about having a first aid kit ready. It is thinking three steps ahead. Who is coming? What is the ground like wet and dry? Where are the shelters and safe spaces if the weather turns? Do we even have a medical contract and if so what is in it? Are the medical, welfare, and other harm reduction services talking to each other and do we need on-site mental health provision too? How big is the medical tent, where is it located, and how will people flow through it at peak times? What is our relationship like with the local ambulance service and with acute and mental health trusts if we need to escalate? Alongside this, I work closely with promoters, local authorities, police, licensing teams, and community groups to ensure the event meets safety standards and has local support. Every decision from tent size to service agreements builds the foundation for a safe, smooth-running event and it all starts long before the gates open.
Medical matchmaking
No, I am not setting up paramedics on coffee dates. I am making sure the medical provision matches the event’s needs and that means much more than picking the cheapest option. In fact, those who pay less often pay more in the end. Medical cover is not something to throw out to competitive tender and hope for the lowest bid. It is about choosing a provider who is ready for today’s demands and the future legislation on the horizon, including upcoming CQC regulation changes. I look for providers who can demonstrate they are prepared for these changes now rather than scrambling to catch up later. The right questions include:
Are they CQC registered and if they are what for?
Is their insurance robust?
Have they delivered services at the level your event requires before?
Do they have the capacity to transfer patients off-site safely if needed?
Is their equipment up to date, well maintained, and suited to a festival environment rather than just the cheapest to hire?
Are their staff appropriately trained and experienced in working in a field hospital setting?
None of these things are cheap but your festival’s success and reputation could depend on them.
Value without compromise
Every pound spent on medical provision is an investment in the safety, reputation, and smooth running of your event. My role is to make sure that investment works hard. That means ensuring resources are allocated where they will have the greatest impact, from the right mix of staff and skills to equipment that is reliable in a muddy field at two in the morning. It is about understanding which elements are non-negotiable, where efficiencies can be made without cutting quality, and how to future-proof against rising demands and regulatory changes. The goal is an event that is safe, compliant, and ready for whatever the weekend throws at it without breaking the bank or the plan.
On-site oversight
Once the gates open, my job is to make sure the plan works where it matters: on the ground. That means walking the site, talking to the teams, and asking the right questions. What is working well? Do they have everything they need? Have they met the other providers and do they know how to work together? Are we prepared to deal with the biggest risks on site such as illegal drugs or excessive alcohol use? Do they have escalation plans in place and have these been tested with Event Control? There is a difference between regular updates and a rapid escalation when something serious happens. Are the staff happy, supported, and able to deliver the care they are trained for? We also ask what they would change for next year and give them space to showcase the incredible work they do. Oversight is not just about spotting problems. It is about enabling great care to shine.
Post-event learning
When the music stops, we debrief. What went well? What could be better? What needs to change before next year? The best events use these conversations to grow stronger every season because lessons unlearned have a habit of coming back louder the second time.
Why it matters
Because when you are running an event or festival, the last thing you want is a medical emergency you are not prepared for. Good planning does not just protect people. It protects the reputation and finances of the event. And while I cannot stop people from making questionable choices, like wearing flip-flops to a three-day mud festival, I can make sure there is a plan for keeping them safe.
So, next time someone asks what I do, I will smile and say:
“I make sure your good time does not turn into a bad day.”