Argyll & Bute Health & Social Care Partnership has partnered with British air mobility company Skyports to use drones to carry Covid-19 test samples between medical facilities.
Following a proof-of-concept phase in 2020, the drone service has been expanded and is now fully operational across Argyll and Bute.
In a UK first, Skyports has become the first operator to receive permission by the UK Civil Aviation Authority to carry diagnostic specimens by drone.
Skyports said it aimed to help improve Covid-19 related logistics to and from remote locations, delivering testing kits and samples as well as medical materials including PPE.
The drones can carry as much as 3kg in critical medical supplies up to 40 miles, increasing the speed of transport in some areas of the Argyll and Bute region.
Currently journeys can take up to 36 hours for a road and ferry journey. According to Skyports, using a drone will reduce this to 15 minutes whilst also increasing the frequency of pick- ups.
Both a scheduled service and an on-demand service will be run. NHS staff orders can be placed through an online system developed by digital consultants Deloitte.
Skyports will use the Swoop Aero drone-powered logistics platform and the vehicles will be controlled from the Skyports Operations Centre in Oban, flying automatically along predefined routes.
Communication between the drone and the ground control station will be provided by Vodafone’s 4G network and satellite communications to ensure connectivity coverage is provided at all times.
Duncan Walker, chief executive officer at Skyports, said: “Using drone deliveries within supply chains can create significant time and cost savings.
“This initiative is a natural progression from our recent trials with the NHS in Scotland as we scale our operations, supporting a wider network of hospitals and medical practices as they continue to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The experience from this important initiative will put us another step closer to permanent operations from which we hope more NHS facilities could soon benefit. This project underscores the viability of drone technology as a practical way to move goods.”
The drone delivery service will initially operate between Lorn & Islands Hospital in Oban, Mid-Argyll Community Hospital in Lochgilphead, Easdale Medical Practice in Clachan Seil and the Mull & Iona Community Hospital in Craignure.
Read more: Royal Mail deploys drone in UK-first parcel delivery trial
