Drones deliver cancer drugs to Isle of Wight – Throughout the month of July, cancer drugs were flown from Portsmouth to a hospital on the Isle of Wight via drone. This is the first study of its kind carried out by NHS England. The drones for the trial have been developed and supplied by Apian, a medical drone company founded by NHS doctors and ex-Google employees. If the trial is successful, it could improve cancer treatment for not only patients on the Isle of Wight, but also patients living on other islands surrounding England and other rural areas.
Firstly, it demonstrates if drones can be used to deliver medicines to remote locations within England. Patients on the Isle of Wight currently must travel to the mainland for cancer treatments at their own inconvenience. It takes around 4 hours for medicine to reach the Isle of Wight from the mainland. This poses a risk to cancer medicines, as they are often sensitive and must be stored and transported at the correct temperatures and in appropriate conditions. The drone flight takes only 30 minutes. This would make it more feasible for cancer treatments to be transported to the Isle of Wight and for patients to be treated on the island.
Secondly, it could help to reduce emissions created by the NHS. If patients do not have to travel to the mainland for treatment, it saves 2 car journeys and a boat trip. Healthcare must limit its emissions where possible to ensure it can sustainably treat patients into the future.
There have previously been successful trials of medicinal product delivered to the Isle of Wight via drone. On the 9th March 2020, Solent Transport and the University of Southampton successfully delivered medical supplies to the Pathology Department at St Marys Hospital on the island during the Covid-19 outbreak.
As time goes on, drones are becoming more advanced, being able to travel further, faster and carry heavier consignments. The drones used in the NHS England trial can carry consignments up to 25kg in weight.
For more information, please refer to the articles linked below:
World’s first chemo drone delivery announced on NHS birthday
https://www.england.nhs.uk/2022/07/worlds-first-chemo-drone-delivery-marks-nhs-birthday/
Drone successfully completes first delivery of medical equipment to the Isle of Wight
https://www.southampton.ac.uk/news/2020/05/drone-trial-delivery.page