Drones to aid NHS sample transport

The use of drones to transport urgent NHS samples is set to expand across south west London after a successful pilot demonstrated faster delivery times. South West London Pathology (SWLP) plans to incorporate drone technology into its modernisation programme, extending the service to additional hospitals and GP sites.

Since February 2026, drones have been transporting pathology samples from Nelson Health Centre in Raynes Park to the SWLP laboratory at St George’s Hospital in Tooting, completing the journey in just over three minutes. This is significantly faster than the around 20 minutes it takes by road.

The service is being delivered in partnership with healthcare logistics company Apian and aims to improve the speed and reliability of transporting urgent pathology samples. By reducing reliance on London’s congested road network, the service can help support more timely treatment decisions.

SWLP provides pathology services for a population of around 1.8 million people, processing 51 million samples each year for NHS trusts and GP practices across south west London. They are investing heavily in automation and digitisation to improve diagnostic precision and speed.

According to Simon Brewer, managing director of SWLP, the impact of investment in automation and digitisation will be restricted if samples are still getting stuck on roads. Drones can help move samples faster, cheaper, and greener, and are now a core consideration of logistics plans. They plan to extend drone connections to sites including St Helier, Croydon, and Kingston hospitals, alongside additional primary care locations.

More than 2,000 patients have already benefited from the service, with deliveries reported to be up to 85% faster than conventional ground transport. The quicker turnaround supports clinicians in making more timely treatment decisions. Wider deployment could also reduce logistics costs, with drone deliveries reported to be up to 23% cheaper than existing urgent courier services.

The use of electric drones also produces 98% less CO₂ per delivery than vans, supporting wider NHS ambitions to reduce emissions. This is a significant environmental benefit, particularly in urban areas like London.

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Andy Christodoulou, senior portfolio manager at Community Health Partnerships, described the project as “a fantastic innovation” that demonstrates how NHS infrastructure can support new models of care. Dr Sabena Mughal, NHS paediatric consultant and director of healthcare partnerships at Apian, said that drone delivery is no longer a novelty, but has become an essential part of healthcare logistics.

As the service expands, it’s likely that we’ll see more efficient and reliable transportation of urgent pathology samples. This, in turn, can lead to better patient outcomes and more effective use of NHS resources. For now, the focus is on expanding similar services across the NHS, with Apian working to introduce drone delivery to more hospitals and GP sites.

The inclusion of Nelson Health Centre marks the first routine use of drones to collect pathology samples from an NHS primary care facility. This milestone highlights the potential for drone technology to improve healthcare logistics and support the NHS in its mission to provide high-quality patient care.