Hospitals to use drones to courier blood samples

A drone in action during a trial run

Urgent blood samples taken from patients at a major London hospital are to be sent for analysis by drone to avoid traffic across the capital.

Drone flights will take a fraction of the time it takes to courier samples by road, officials said.

The pilot, run by Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, will carry blood between its hospitals.

At the moment, transferring samples between Guy's Hospital and the lab at St Thomas' Hospital - a journey by road of nearly two miles - can take more than half an hour using van or motorbike couriers, but the samples can be transported in less than two minutes by drone.

Blood packed and ready to be flown

The six-month project, regulated by the Civil Aviation Authority, will involve transporting blood samples from patients undergoing surgery who are at high risk of complications from bleeding disorders.

The pilot scheme is expected to start later in the autumn.

Experts said the initial pilot could pave the way for other types of drone deliveries between the hospitals run by the trust, and other London hospitals.

"The drone pilot combines two of our key priorities - providing the best possible patient care and improving sustainability," said Prof Ian Abbs, chief executive at Guy's and St Thomas'.

"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."

A recent research project by NHS Blood and Transplant found that drones could safely be used to deliver blood stocks between hospitals.

Officials sent packs of "red blood cell components" through the skies and via road between Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust's Wansbeck Hospital and Alnwick Infirmary and back again.

Tests to assess the quality of the blood and whether it would still be viable for clinical use found no significant differences in the blood that was flown or driven.

A similar trial for blood platelets is being planned.