Medirek covers film, TV and commercial productions at or near Maidstone, 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.
Maidstone, Kent's county town on the River Medway, is home to Maidstone Studios, with the North Downs and Medway valley close by.
Filming in Maidstone: locations and permits
Maidstone Studios is a television studio, while the surrounding Medway valley, North Downs and countryside offer location work. Audience days add members of the public to the medical picture, and riverside and rural locations bring their own access and water hazards.
Who gives permission: the Kent Film Office, as the film office for Kent and Medway, is the first port of call for filming permits and highway filming. Studio and private venues arrange on-site work themselves.
Sources: Kent Film Office
Production safety and RAMS in Maidstone
Permit bodies and landowners in Maidstone 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 Maidstone
- Studio audiences and public
- River Medway banks
- Rural locations off the M20
- Build and de-rig at venues
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 Maidstone
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 Maidstone 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 Maidstone
The typical route from Medirek's base in Alfold, Surrey, is via the M25, M26 and M20. 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 medical cover for a studio audience show?
Yes. Medirek can provide TV studio cover for cast, crew and studio audiences, long or short term.
Can you cover a location day along the Medway?
Yes. Medirek can provide set medics and water safety for non-swift water along the river.
How do you reach Maidstone?
From Medirek's base in Alfold, Surrey, via the M25, M26 and M20.
Can you provide a production safety advisor for a shoot in Maidstone?
Yes. Medirek's production safety advisors can attend the tech recce in Maidstone, 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