Gearing up to deliver medical samples between London hospitals

The United Kingdom’s National Health Service, or NHS, is planning to begin transporting blood samples by drone between two central London hospitals, powered by Wing and Apian. 

Our goal is simple: improve patient care by speeding up hospital and laboratory logistics thanks to fast, efficient, and safe medical drone delivery flights. 

We will provide on-demand transfer of blood samples, taking these time-sensitive items out of delivery vans and city traffic. As noted by the Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, the trial will transport blood samples for patients undergoing surgery who are at high risk of complications from bleeding disorders.

Flying between two hospital rooftops with a cruising speed of about 100 km/h and a flight time of less than two minutes, our drones will zip by quickly and blend in with city sounds. While it won’t appear all that much is happening from the ground level, Wing drones will be improving the experience for caregivers and patients inside the hospitals.

This operation is regulated by the UK Civil Aviation Authority which has granted the airspace approval. We will conclude all final regulatory requirements in advance of operations later this fall.

We’ve already seen the benefits of medical drone delivery in commercial operations at Wing and Apian’s Dublin, Ireland medical supply service. To date, we’ve focused on sutures and surgical tools, flying these medical supplies in approximately 4 minutes. 

We’re excited to implement our medical drone delivery service in a landmark first both for the NHS and for an urban environment like London. Stay tuned for an inside look at our operations once these deliveries are in the air. 

For more information, visit apian.aero/london.