Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in London has launched a six-month pilot project to deliver urgent blood samples via drones. The initiative aims to cut down the current transport time between hospitals from over 30 minutes to less than two minutes.
Currently, blood samples rely on van or motorbike couriers, which often face delays due to London’s heavy traffic. This new drone system, regulated by the Civil Aviation Authority, promises a quicker and more efficient solution, particularly benefiting high-risk patients undergoing surgery with bleeding disorders.
Prof Ian Abbs, Chief Executive of Guy’s and St Thomas’, shared his excitement for the project, emphasizing how it aligns with the Trust’s mission to improve patient care and reduce environmental impact. “We are proud to be the first trust in London to trial this innovative approach,” Abbs stated.
This pilot, developed in partnership with healthcare logistics firm Apian and drone delivery company Wing, is part of a larger strategy to integrate drone technology into healthcare logistics. Research has shown that drones can safely transport blood products without affecting their viability. A 2016 study by Timothy Amukele at Johns Hopkins Hospital found that drone flights did not harm red blood cells, platelets, or plasma, even under varying conditions.
Earlier this year, NHS Blood and Transplant also ran a successful drone trial, flying red blood cells between hospitals in Northumbria. The results confirmed that blood quality remained intact, supporting the use of drones for medical transport in the UK.
This groundbreaking trial in London could lead to wider use of drones in delivering critical medical supplies across the NHS, ensuring faster diagnostics and timely care for patients.
Internationally, drones have proven their effectiveness in healthcare. In Rwanda, Zipline, a San Francisco-based drone startup, has been delivering blood to healthcare facilities since 2016. With two hubs in Rwanda, Zipline’s drones complete up to 500 deliveries per day. Research published in Lancet Global Health revealed that drones reduced blood delivery times from two hours to just 41 minutes, significantly cutting wastage.
India has also embraced drone technology to improve healthcare access, especially in remote areas. Last year, Skye Air Mobility conducted a trial, flying blood samples from Meerut to Noida in just over an hour—a trip that would have taken more than two hours by road. The company has since completed over 1,000 flights, delivering medical supplies and other products, while partnering with SRL Diagnostics to speed up blood sample deliveries.
Although trials show promise, experts like Rutuja Patil of the KEM Hospital Research Centre highlight that scaling up drone technology is necessary to make it cost-effective for broader use in healthcare.
