UK healthcare logistics start-up Apian has revealed initial details of the expansion of the National Health Service (NHS) drone delivery network in London.
Matternet will join Apian’s multi-operator platform, marking its operational debut in the UK. California-based Matternet specialises in urban drone delivery, and has been carrying lab samples, pharmaceuticals, and medical supplies in Switzerland since 2017 and in the United States since 2019.
This expansion builds on the success of Apian’s existing service at Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospitals with Wing, which has demonstrated how on-demand drone delivery enables improved clinical productivity, cost savings and CO2 emission reductions. The expansion will add additional routes and a focus on NHS pathology networks, including centralised hubs such as Synlab Blackfriars, helping process tens of millions of tests each month.
Apian is also advancing plans for autonomous ground delivery robots, designed to automate the final ‘clinical metre’ of hospital logistics. The robots will enable hands-free transport of samples and supplies directly between delivery drones and clinical teams, reducing delays and freeing up staff. Apian is working with Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) to scope the integration of this technology alongside its drone operations.
Alexander Trewby, Apian co-founder and CEO, said: “From 5,000 patient samples delivered at Guy’s and St Thomas’, to quadruped robots at GOSH – we’re building intelligent infrastructure that quietly transforms care. Our new partner Matternet brings choice and scale, helping us create logistics that work invisibly in the background and freeing up clinical teams to focus on the patients who need it most.”
Find out about Matternet here: https://www.matternet.com/
https://couriernews.co.uk/blog/london-nhs-drone-deliveries-to-increase/