Medirek covers film, TV and commercial productions at or near Chatham, Kent, from its base in Alfold, Surrey. Cover is matched to the production's risk, from a single set medic to higher-level clinicians, ambulance cover, RAMS and tech recces, water safety and fire cover.
Chatham is home to The Historic Dockyard Chatham, an 80-acre site of Georgian and Victorian buildings, cobbled streets, warehouses, docksides and historic warships.
Filming in Chatham: locations and permits
The Dockyard has been a long-running location for Call the Midwife, and has also appeared in Bridgerton, Les Misérables and Sherlock Holmes. Period streets, docksides, ropery buildings and three historic warships make it a regular choice for drama. Docksides and basins, ship decks and ladders, old buildings and big supporting-artist days all shape the medical and safety plan.
Who gives permission: filming at The Historic Dockyard Chatham is arranged with the Dockyard's filming team. Before filming it asks for a signed contract, proof of £10 million public liability insurance, a signed risk assessment and method statement, and a full schedule including any stunts and special effects, and it requires a site visit with its filming team. It works with Medway Council and the Kent Film Office, which covers Kent and Medway, for other locations nearby.
Sources: The Historic Dockyard Chatham: filming conditions; The Historic Dockyard Chatham: filming locations; Kent Film Office
Production safety and RAMS in Chatham
Permit bodies and landowners in Chatham commonly ask for a risk assessment, and some ask for full risk assessments and method statements. Medirek's production safety advisors can attend your tech recce, write production-specific RAMS you can submit with your applications, and provide an on-site safety manager, plus water safety and fire cover teams where the shoot needs them. Because the same team plans the medical cover, the RAMS and the medical plan match.
Hazards we plan for in Chatham
- Dock edges and basins
- Ship decks, hatches and ladders
- Historic buildings and cobbles
- Large supporting-artist calls
Medirek looks at these at the tech recce and builds them into the medical plan, including access for an ambulance and the route to the nearest emergency department.
What Medirek provides in Chatham
Unit and set medics
Staff are DBS checked, uniformed and hold relevant, recognised qualifications, ranging from FREC 3, FREC 4, ECA and RTACC through to HCPC-registered paramedics and nurses, with doctors where the risk calls for it.
Stunt and action cover
Higher-level clinicians for stunts, vehicle action and SFX, planned with your stunt coordinator.
Ambulance cover and conveyance
Arranged where the risk assessment calls for it. Medirek has 4×4-capable response vehicles for remote and off-road locations.
Health and safety, RAMS, tech recce
Production-specific risk assessments and method statements for your Chatham locations, informed by a tech recce.
Water safety
Bankside responders and in-water safety staff in full PPE for non-swift water.
Fire cover
Fire prevention advice and rapid intervention teams for SFX, pyrotechnics and builds.
Insured and clinically governed
Strict clinical governance, overseen by a GMC-registered Medical Director and a clinical team including paramedics and frontline medical staff, for consistent care. Insured with £2m medical malpractice and £10m public liability.
Confidential and responsive
Staff work under production NDAs and confidentiality. We endeavour to help all productions, including last-minute requests where possible.
Getting to Chatham
The typical route from Medirek's base in Alfold, Surrey, is via the M25, M2 and A2. Unit base, call times and rendezvous points are agreed when cover is booked. We endeavour to help all productions, including last-minute requests where possible.
Frequently asked questions
Can you provide the RAMS the Dockyard asks for?
Yes. Medirek can write a risk assessment and method statement specific to your shoot at the Dockyard, covering activities, stunts, special effects and emergency arrangements.
Can you cover a big supporting-artist day?
Yes. Medirek scales cover to the number of cast, crew and supporting artists, from a single medic to a larger team.
Do you provide water safety by the dock basins?
Medirek can provide water safety for non-swift water, including bankside responders, planned around the docksides and basins you are using.
Who handles filming elsewhere in Medway?
The Kent Film Office covers Kent and Medway, and works with Medway Council.
Can you provide a production safety advisor for a shoot in Chatham?
Yes. Medirek's production safety advisors can attend the tech recce in Chatham, write production-specific risk assessments and method statements for your permit applications, and provide an on-site safety manager, water safety and fire cover, alongside or separate from medical cover.
More filming locations nearby
Further reading: The most filmed towns and counties in the South and South East