(Wing)Drones will soon transport blood between London hospitals.
Drones will soon be transporting blood supplies between hospitals in London. The faster deliveries will make patient care more efficient.
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The British National Health Service (NHS) is launching an innovative project in London in collaboration with the start-up Apian and the Alphabet subsidiary Wing. Drones will be used to transport urgently needed blood supplies between Guy’s Hospital and St. Thomas’ Hospital. How techcrunch.com reported, the aim is to improve supply logistics through fast and reliable medical drone deliveries.
Fast help for high-risk patients
Instead of relying on delivery trucks that have to struggle through the city’s busy streets, the drones will transport the canned goods quickly and directly between hospitals. This service was specifically developed to help patients undergoing surgery who are at risk of complications due to blood clotting disorders.
The drones will fly between two hospital roofs at a speed of around 100 kilometers per hour, with each flight over the distance of around two kilometers taking less than two minutes. Despite the high speed, the operation should be quiet and unobtrusive.
The Civil Aviation Authority will monitor and regulate the affected airspace during the pilot project. It is likely that the test run will pave the way for other types of drone deliveries between London hospitals. A similar trial for platelets is already being planned, according to techchrunch.com.
Blood samples reach their destination undamaged
In the past, the NHS has conducted tests in other parts of the UK and found no significant differences between blood delivered by drone and that delivered by van or motorbike. The blood deliveries reached their destination unscathed.
According to authorities, the trial will also drastically reduce CO₂ emissions associated with blood delivery, as neither electric nor petrol vehicles will be needed. The companies involved, Apian and Wing, already have experience with medical drone deliveries in Dublin. Apian has also tested drone deliveries in rural areas of the UK.
The initiative demonstrates the potential of drones to not only speed up medical logistics but also reduce dependence on ground transport, thereby helping to reduce urban congestion.
