UK
NHS to use drones to fly blood samples around London to avoid traffic in new trial
The NHS is going to use drones to fly blood samples across London to avoid the traffic.
Drone flights will mean the samples can be transported in a fraction of the time it currently takes couriers via road, officials said.
Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust has launched a pilot scheme that intends to drastically speed up the time taken to move blood from major hospitals in the capital to labs for analysis.
Usually, moving samples between Guy’s Hospital and the lab at St Thomas’ Hospital takes more than half an hour on the road.
However, the same journey can be done in less than two minutes by drone, officials said.
The research team also said there were environmental benefits to the switch in transport methods.
The new project will last six months and is expected to start this autumn.
It will involve the blood samples of patients undergoing surgery who are at high risk of complications from bleeding disorders.
The move could also pave the way for other types of drone deliveries between the trust’s hospitals and others in the capital.
“The drone pilot combines two of our key priorities – providing the best possible patient care and improving sustainability,” said Professor Ian Abbs, chief executive at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust.
“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.”
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The scheme is being done in conjunction with healthcare logistics company Apian and drone delivery company Wing and is regulated by the Civil Aviation Authority.
This isn’t the first time that drones have been used to transport medical products in NHS trials.
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A recent research project by NHS Blood and Transplant found that drones can be used to safely deliver blood stocks between hospitals in Northumberland.
Packs of “red blood cell components” were ferried through the skies and along the roads between Wansbeck Hospital and Alnwick Infirmary, and back again.
A previous NHS trial used to ferry blood around Northumbria. Pic: PA
Quality tests found the blood flown via drone was of no significant difference to that driven.
A similar trial for blood platelets is being planned.