Drones to deliver blood samples between London hospitals

The innovative system will enable faster transport between Guy’s Hospital and the laboratory at St Thomas’ Hospital, cutting the current half-hour road journey down to under two minutes by air. This will allow quicker assessment of whether patients are ready for surgery or can be discharged, especially for those at high risk of complications from bleeding disorders.

At present, blood samples are delivered by van and motorbike couriers. By switching to drones, the service is expected to bring significant environmental benefits, eliminating carbon emissions associated with road transport and reducing traffic congestion. Lightweight drones have the potential to cut CO2e emissions by up to 99% compared to traditional petrol vehicles and require less energy than electric delivery vans.

This six-month trial is being conducted under the regulation of the Civil Aviation Authority, which has granted approval for airspace use. The project is a collaboration between Guy’s and St Thomas’, Apian – a healthcare logistics company founded by NHS doctors – and Wing, a global drone delivery company under Google’s parent company, Alphabet. The trial, a first for the NHS in London, is expected to launch in autumn 2024.

Apian and Wing have previously worked together on medical drone deliveries in Dublin, Ireland, and Apian has also conducted trials in rural areas of the UK. The success of those projects has paved the way for this urban initiative.

Professor Ian Abbs, Chief Executive at Guy’s and St Thomas’, expressed excitement about the trial, stating: “The drone pilot combines two of our key priorities – providing the best possible patient care and improving sustainability. We are proud to be the first Trust in London to trial this innovative approach to help speed up blood sample analysis for our most urgent cases.”

Howard Dawber, Deputy Mayor of London for Business and Growth, highlighted the wider significance of the project, saying: “This new service is a great example of how the innovation and vision of a London startup has brought much-needed investment from across the globe to tackle important health issues facing our city today – showing how London is leading the way in improving healthcare as we build a fairer London for all.”

The UK Civil Aviation Authority’s Director of Future of Flight, Sophie O’Sullivan, commended the trial's potential to showcase the positive societal impact of drones. She remarked: “Innovative trials like this from Guy’s and St Thomas’, Apian and Wing help demonstrate the many positive and safe ways that drones can be used for society – in this case, to improve patient outcomes and deliver significant environmental benefits. This is one of the many reasons that we are working with companies through our sandbox trials programme, to enable the test and development of pioneering new aviation technology in the UK.”

Dr Hammad Jeilani, Co-Founder of Apian, pointed out how drone logistics can enhance the efficiency of healthcare services, saying: “Drones can increase the responsiveness and resilience of healthcare logistics, allowing clinicians to be more productive and patients to get the care they need sooner. An NHS drone delivery network in London, starting with this innovative trial, will provide on-demand, automated, and sustainable deliveries, helping the NHS create more efficient models of working and our doctors and nurses to deliver the highest quality care for patients.”

The trial will not only assess the efficiency of using drones in healthcare logistics but also explore how this technology can contribute to more sustainable and resilient healthcare systems across London and beyond.