London Hospitals to Use Drones for Rapid Blood Sample Transport

A six-month pilot project aims to cut delivery times from 30 minutes to 2 minutes, enhancing patient care and sustainability.

NHS Foundation Trust will launch the drone delivery pilot this autumn.
The project partners include healthcare logistics startup Apian and drone manufacturer Wing, a subsidiary of Alphabet.
The drones will transport blood samples from patients with high-risk bleeding disorders undergoing surgery.
The initiative is expected to significantly reduce transport time and emissions compared to traditional road couriers.
Regulated by the Civil Aviation Authority, the trial could pave the way for broader medical drone deliveries across London.