LONDON – In a major hospital in London, the patients’ blood samples will be sent for analysis via drones to avoid traffic in the city.

The foreign news agencies said that the hospital officials were of the view that samples could be sent in significantly less time as compared to road transport.

The medical staff at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust has launched a pilot scheme that will use drones to send blood samples between hospitals.

The officials said that transferring samples via van or motorcycle between Guy’s Hospital and St Thomas’ Hospital’s laboratory could take over half an hour by road, but drones could accomplish the same transfer in less than two minutes.

Besides it, the use of drones is expected to have a positive impact on the environment.

This new six-month project (which will be carried out under the Civil Aviation Authority) will involve transporting blood samples for patients undergoing surgery who face more complex risks related to bleeding issues.

The pilot scheme, tested in collaboration with healthcare logistics company Apian and drone delivery company Wing, is expected to launch in 2024.