Drones are now being utilized to transport blood samples between Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospitals as part of an innovative project spearheaded by Apian, a company established in 2020 by two former students of Dulwich College.
Hammad Jeilani and Christopher Law, who graduated from the college in 2016, established the company while working as junior doctors. Dr. Jeilani, who hails from Afghanistan, shared that his upbringing exposed him to the use of drones for destructive purposes in war. This sparked his idea to leverage drone technology for delivering essential medical supplies instead.
The implementation of the drone delivery service is expected to drastically reduce transport times by approximately 93%. This is particularly crucial for patients with bleeding disorders, as their samples can now be transported between London hospitals in just two minutes, as opposed to a half-hour journey by traditional means like vans or motorbikes.
In addition to the significant time savings, the use of lightweight commercial drones also contributes to reducing carbon emissions compared to conventional non-electric vehicles.
Following extensive planning to accommodate the clinical drones, regulatory bodies such as the Civil Aviation Authority and Nats have established a designated flight path for the service within London’s busy and highly secure airspace.
The groundbreaking initiative by Hammad and Christopher paved the way for Boots to make history in 2022 by becoming the first community pharmacy in the UK to deliver prescriptions via medical drones to remote areas of the country. The first successful delivery involved transporting prescription medicine from Portsmouth to the Isle of Wight.
Prior to their success in the healthcare sector, the duo showcased their innovative spirit at Dulwich College by co-founding the Rocketry Society. Their commitment to pushing boundaries and exploring new technologies has now translated into a pioneering drone delivery service that has the potential to revolutionize healthcare logistics.
