Google’s Wing to Use Drones to Fly Blood Between London Hospitals

The drone delivery provider is working with medical logistics firm Apian and the U.K.’s National Health Service (NHS) to launch a six-month trial.

Tuesday, September 17, 2024 at 01:06 PM ET

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Wing delivery drones will transport blood samples between two hospitals in central London within two minutes or less. [Courtesy: Wing]

Key Takeaways:

The U.K.'s NHS, in partnership with Wing (Alphabet) and Apian, is launching a six-month drone delivery trial in central London to transport urgent blood samples between Guy's and St Thomas' hospitals.
This initiative aims to dramatically cut delivery times from over 30 minutes by ground to under two minutes, thereby enhancing patient care and operational efficiency by allowing quicker analysis for safer procedures.
The trial, approved by the U.K.'s Civil Aviation Authority, also prioritizes sustainability through the use of electric drones, contributing to reduced emissions and ground traffic.
It forms part of a broader U.K. government strategy, including the Future of Flight Action Plan, to integrate routine drone deliveries for various purposes by 2027.

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The U.K.’s National Health Service (NHS) is backing a historic drone delivery trial to transport urgent blood samples in the heart of London.

On Monday, the Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust (GSTFT) announced a partnership with Wing, the drone delivery arm of Google parent Alphabet, and Apian, the developer of an application programming interface (API) for medical logistics founded by former NHS doctors, to move blood between two hospitals in less than two minutes. The U.K.’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has approved an airspace corridor between the hospitals and will regulate the trial.

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.