Drugs including vital chemotherapy medicine will be flown by drone between NHS sites to speed up the delivery of lifesaving medicines.
A pilot scheme is being launched to use drones to enable “same-day delivery” orders for drugs and equipment from anywhere in the country.
The trial will see a drone deliver chemotherapy drugs from the pharmacy at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust to St Mary’s Hospital on the Isle of Wight.
The drone programme will then be followed by a similar pilot scheme in Northumbria.
The "innovative" new programme was announced as the NHS marked its 74th birthday today (July 5).
Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: “Using the latest technology to deliver chemo by drone means patients will have quicker, fairer access to treatment no matter where they live.
“As the NHS turns 74, innovations like this will help improve patients’ access to lifesaving care.”
The drone will cut delivery times to the Isle of Wight from four hours to 30 minutes, as one flight will replace two car journeys and one hovercraft or ferry journey per delivery.
NHS England officials said that chemotherapy is difficult to transport as some doses have a short shelf life.
Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of NHS England, said: “Delivering chemo by drone is another extraordinary development for cancer patients and shows how the NHS will stop at nothing to ensure people get the treatment they need as promptly as possible - while also cutting costs and carbon emissions.”
As well as saving time and money, the new delivery method, launched in partnership with tech company Apian, will offer a better option for cancer patients living on the Isle of Wight, many of whom have to travel to the mainland for treatment, officials added.
Darren Cattell, chief executive of Isle of Wight NHS Trust, said: “We are still at a relatively early stage but the use of drones to transport medical supplies is a concept that has radical and positive implications for both the NHS and for patients across the UK as well as the Isle of Wight.
"It is great to be part of this innovative project.”
