Project CAELUS Pioneers NHS Drone Delivery of Laboratory Specimens

In a historic moment for Scottish healthcare, Project CAELUS has successfully completed the first-ever drone delivery of laboratory specimens between two NHS boards. Interestingly, the project’s name, CAELUS, draws inspiration from Roman mythology. Caelus, the primordial god of the sky, embodies the project’s ambition to utilize the airspace for vital healthcare logistics. This landmark achievement marks a significant step towards a future where drones play a vital role in enhancing medical logistics and improving patient care, particularly in remote and rural areas. The innovative project, led by AGS Airports in partnership with NHS Scotland, showcases the potential of drone technology to transform the way essential medical supplies are transported.

Project CAELUS Takes to the Skies

During a three-week flight trial, live flights were conducted between the Edinburgh BioQuarter, adjacent to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, and Borders General Hospital in Melrose. Notably, these flights demonstrated the feasibility of transporting laboratory samples, crucial for timely clinical decision-making, in a fraction of the time it currently takes by road.

Transforming Healthcare Logistics

Project CAELUS aims to establish the first national drone network in Scotland, capable of transporting essential medicines, blood, and other medical supplies across the country, including to remote communities. By utilizing drones, the project envisions reducing delivery times from hours to minutes, thereby expediting diagnoses and treatments.

Pioneering Beyond Visual Line of Sight Operations

Fiona Smith, Project Director for Project CAELUS, highlighted the significance of this achievement, emphasizing that it represents one of the first instances in the UK where beyond visual line of sight medical drone operations have been demonstrated, traversing both controlled and uncontrolled airspace.

Enhancing Patient Care

Hazel Dempsey, the CAELUS NHS Scotland programme lead, emphasized the project’s focus on exploring how drone technology can benefit patients and NHS services across diverse landscapes. The potential to bypass traditional van logistics, which can be time-consuming and limited by geographical constraints, is particularly promising for remote and rural communities.

Innovation in Action

The latest live flight trials also involved testing how NHS staff would interact with the drone, both physically and digitally, in future operations. Dr Tracey Gillies, Medical Director and Executive Lead for Innovation at NHS Lothian, expressed enthusiasm for the potential of drones to revolutionize the transport of samples for testing and the delivery of critical medical supplies, particularly in diverse regions like Lothian.

Collaboration for a Brighter Future

Laura Jones, Director of Quality & Improvement at NHS Borders, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the project’s alignment with their commitment to modernizing services and leveraging technology to enhance patient care.

Building a National Drone Network

Since its inception in January 2020, the CAELUS consortium has been diligently working towards its ambitious goal. The team has designed drone landing stations for NHS sites across Scotland and developed a virtual model (digital twin) of the proposed delivery network, connecting hospitals, pathology laboratories, distribution centres, and GP surgeries throughout the country.  

Successful Trials Pave the Way

In October 2023, a successful trial showcased the integration of drones with modern airspace, with flights conducted between Glasgow Airport and NHS Golden Jubilee in Clydebank. The recent live flight trials were expertly operated by Skyports Drone Services, a UK-based operator with extensive experience in drone delivery, including previous collaborations with the NHS.

Exploring New Frontiers

In addition to medical supply deliveries, the Scottish Ambulance Service conducted a simulation study to assess the feasibility of delivering Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) via drone technology. Paul Gowens, Associate Director of Research and Innovation with the Scottish Ambulance Service, expressed optimism about the potential of drones to enhance emergency response capabilities.

Innovation in Infrastructure

Mike McNicholas, managing director for Infrastructure at AtkinsRéalis, highlighted the importance of the ground infrastructure, including the innovative mobile landing pads designed by the consortium partner. These portable landing pads, which can be easily folded and stored or relocated, demonstrate the viability and scalability of a drone network for medical deliveries.

Integrating Drones into Airspace

Richard Ellis, NATS New Airspace Users Director, emphasized the progress made in integrating drones into the airspace, bringing the vision of a truly integrated airspace closer to reality.

A Collaborative Effort

The success of Project CAELUS is a testament to the collaborative efforts of its 16 partners, including the University of Strathclyde, Skyports Drone Services, NATS, NHS Scotland, and others. The project’s principal investigator at the University of Strathclyde, Dr Marco Fossati, underscored the importance of these latest trials in the journey towards a national medical transport drone network.

Public Support

Anne-Lisa Scaillierez, partner at The Drone Office, shared that public feedback from engagement activities has shown overwhelming support for the use of drones in medical logistics across Scotland.

Understanding Human Impacts

David Hiller, Associate Director of Arup, emphasized the importance of understanding the human impacts of noise in relation to health and wellbeing, highlighting the significance of the study facilitated by CAELUS in supporting broader innovation globally.

Economic and Business Cases

Connected Places Catapult’s Ecosystem Director for Air Mobility & Airports, Andrew Chadwick, expressed enthusiasm for the project’s progress and the potential for future opportunities for drone operations, particularly in light of the positive economic and business cases developed in collaboration with NHS Scotland and consortium members.

Parting Thoughts

The successful drone delivery of laboratory specimens between NHS boards by Project CAELUS heralds a new era in healthcare logistics. The potential benefits of this technology, particularly for remote and rural communities, are immense. As the project continues to advance, reaching towards the celestial heights its name implies, we can anticipate further groundbreaking developments that will shape the future of medical transport and enhance patient care across Scotland. The collaboration between industry leaders, academia, and the NHS exemplifies the power of innovation to address critical challenges and improve lives.

For More Information:

• AGS Airports
• ANRA Technologies UK
• Arup
• AtkinsRéalis
• Boldyn Networks UK
• Commonplace Digital
• Connected Places Catapult
• DGP Intelsius
• Dronamics
• NATS
• NHS Scotland
• Plane Finder
• Skyports Drone Services
• The Drone Office
• Trax International
• University of Strathclyde

Image Credits:

• AGS Airports

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The post Project CAELUS Pioneers NHS Drone Delivery of Laboratory Specimens appeared first on eVTOL Insights.

The post Project CAELUS Pioneers NHS Drone Delivery of Laboratory Specimens appeared first on eVTOL Insights.