Health / Health board keen to hear more about plans to deliver medicine by drone
It comes as a national project to launch a medical drone delivery network reaches its next phase
NHS Shetland is continuing to engage in discussions around opportunities to use drones to deliver essential medicines.
It comes as a project to develop the UK’s first medical drone delivery network reaches its next phase.
The CAELUS programme secured just over £10 million of government funding via the UK Research and Innovation body last month.
It brings together 16 partners, including NHS Scotland and the University of Strathclyde, to work on plans for a system in which essential medicine, blood and other medical supplies could be transported by drone – including to remote communities.
The project also involves AGS Airports Limited, the owner of the Aberdeen and Glasgow airports.
It echoes separate plans by the Royal Mail to use drones to deliver mail to islands before posties distribute the letters and parcels.
Director of pharmacy for NHS Shetland and NHS Orkney Anthony McDavitt said the local health board recognises how beneficial a drone service could be.
“While we haven’t been directly involved in the first stage of the [CAELUS] project, a member of staff was present at a recent workshop where further stages were discussed,” he continued.
“However, it is possible that during the next two years as the project progresses, the board, along with other North of Scotland health boards, will become more involved with the work.
“As part of this, we will continue to work with other health boards facing similar geographical challenges to look to understand how we use new technologies to support logistics in medicines supply in the future.”
The consortium behind CAELUS has already designed drone landing stations for NHS sites across Scotland and developed a virtual model of the proposed delivery network which connects hospitals, pathology laboratories, distribution centres and GP surgeries.
The second phase will involve live flight trials and removing remaining barriers to safely using drones at scale within Scotland’s airspace.
NHS Grampian’s program lead for innovation Hazel Dempsey said: “We are incredibly excited to be the lead board for this high-end innovative project.
“Our aim, from an NHS perspective, is to test the use of drone technology in urban, remote, rural and island landscapes.
“We want to test if using drones to will improve important aspects of our logistics service, for example, to test the transportation of laboratory samples, blood products, chemotherapy, and medicine delivery.
“Ultimately, we want to explore if drone technology can speed up diagnosis and treatment of medical problems.
“This has the potential to improve services for those whose care is dependent on rail, ferry or airline timetables and help keep people at home where they can be supported by families and loved ones.”
Become a supporter of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider start paying for their dose of the latest local news delivered straight to their PC, tablet or mobile phone.
Journalism comes at a price and because that price is not being paid in today’s rapidly changing media world, most publishers - national and local - struggle financially despite very healthy audience figures.
Most online publishers have started charging for access to their websites, others have chosen a different route. Shetland News currently has over 600 supporters who are all making small voluntary financial contributions. All funds go towards covering our cost and improving the service further.
Your contribution will ensure Shetland News can: -
- Bring you the headlines as they happen;
- Stay editorially independent;
- Give a voice to the community;
- Grow site traffic further;
- Research and publish more in-depth news, including more Shetland Lives features.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a supporter of Shetland News by either making a single payment or monthly subscription.
Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.
Already a supporter? Sign in to hide this message.
