Drones are planned to deliver urgent NHS pathology samples across south west London to help clinicians access test results faster.
The service builds on the first phase of London’s NHS drone delivery network with Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and pathology provider Synnovis, which delivered more than 6,000 patient samples, providing average cost savings of 28% and reducing CO₂ emissions by 98.4% per delivery compared to urgent ad hoc courier vans.
Under the next phase of the project, which is expected to commence in spring 2026 following final regulatory approvals, drones will carry pathology samples from Nelson Health Centre in Merton to the South West London Pathology Network’s (SWLP) central laboratory at St George’s Hospital in Tooting.
The service, delivered by British logistics startup Apian and global drone operator Wing, is expected to reduce delivery times by up to 85%.
Simon Brewer, managing director at SWLP, said: “By introducing drones into our logistics operations, we’re harnessing cutting-edge technology to improve NHS services.
“We’ll be able to avoid disruption on south west London’s notoriously busy roads, while accelerating turnaround times, enabling clinicians to make timely decisions and deliver world-class care.
“This first phase is an exciting step in understanding how drone logistics can support more cost-effective and resilient pathology services across south west London.”
The service will proceed following the conclusion of final regulatory requirements in the coming weeks, working closely with the UK Civil Aviation Authority in partnership with air traffic management provider NATS.
Dr Mike Eager, medical integration lead at Apian, said: “Working with SWLP and St George’s, we’ll help deliver high-quality pathology services to more than 1.3 million patients across South West London.
“We’ll also be supporting plans to deliver care closer to home with the integration of primary care into this network.
“With growing evidence of the clinical, commercial, and environmental benefits of drone delivery, it’s fantastic to be working with the NHS to scale this innovation across the nation’s capital.”
Meanwhile, in April 2025, it was reported that drones could be deployed under new UK regulations planned for 2026, which would allow flights beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) limit.
Under current regulations, drones cannot be flown BVLOS, making their use for long-distance journeys impossible, but government plans to simplify regulations could allow them to fly long distances without their operators seeing them.
In June last year it was also confirmed that autonomous ground delivery robots are planned to join the drone delivery network in London to deliver NHS supplies.
Apian is working with Great Ormond Street Hospital to scope the integration of the robotic technology alongside its drone operations, with the aim of reducing delays and freeing up staff.
