NHS drone trial aims to help COVID-19 battle

Drones are set to transport COVID-19 samples under a new project backed by UK and European Space Agencies. Navigated using satellite enabled GPS the drones would be operated over a network of air corridors.

A six-month trial of the drone service will be held at the Broomfield Hospital in Essex which is part of the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust.

‘Project Dreadnought’, will have the potential to reduce turnaround times for testing at labs, whilst also taking out the human element of transporting samples, minimising the chance of viral transmission for medical couriers.

It should also mean that labs can receive more samples more frequently.

The company behind the trial, Apian, was founded by trainee NHS doctors Hammad Jeilani and Christopher Law. Its future plans are to transport other types of samples as well as medical equipment.

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