Are drones the future of medical deliveries?
A Clinical Director at NHS Grampian says "fantasy has turned into fact"
Last updated 22nd Jun 2022
Drones could be the future of delivering medical care across Grampian, should a bid for funding be accepted.
It would see things such as lab samples, test results and medicines be transported across the area in the sky.
Caelus Consortia, a group made up of Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton airports, the NHS and other industry partners have sent a bid away to the UK Government's Innovation agency, Innovate UK.
It follows a largely successful testing period in Argyll and Bute.
The drones operated for three months, clocking up an impressive 14,000km.
Despite that, the plan was originally met with "sniggers or raised eyebrows" when the idea was passed around two years ago, according to a Clinical Director at NHS Grampian Dr Jamie Hogg.
"I would say two years ago when I started phoning around other health boards and asking people to buy a drone, I got sniggers or raised eyebrows.
"But in the two years that the Caelus project's been running, a fantasy has turned into fact."
Only about 60% of scheduled flights went out, however Dr Hogg insists the test was a success.
"It was a success. , yes. But the weather in Argyll is a bit wet and windy so the drones that were used in the test flights could could operate about 60% of the time.
"We need to use the next generation of drones, which are more weather resistant, bigger, and can carry a bigger payload."