Apian and Wing Partner to Deliver Pathology Specimens by Drone Across Southwest London NHS Sites

Drones have become an integral part of logistics operations for South West London Pathology (SWLP), handling the urgent transport of pathology specimens between healthcare facilities across the region.

Regular Route Now Operational

Since February 2026, drones operated in partnership with Apian have been collecting specimens from Nelson Health Centre in Raynes Park and delivering them to the SWLP laboratory at St George's Hospital in Tooting. The flight takes just over three minutes — a significant improvement over road transport, which can be severely hampered by traffic congestion or adverse weather conditions.

Apian is working with Wing — the Alphabet-owned company with extensive commercial drone delivery experience — to scale and expand the use of this technology.

SWLP's Service Scale and Expansion Plans

SWLP serves approximately 1.8 million patients across southwest London, processing up to 51 million samples annually for NHS trusts and GP surgeries. The organisation is now working with Apian to extend drone routes to additional hospitals, including St Helier, Croydon and Kingston, as well as to a wider network of primary care sites.

SWLP Executive Director Simon Brewer noted that while the pathology network has invested heavily in automation and digitalisation, logistics remains a key bottleneck. Drones, he said, can transport urgent specimens faster, at lower cost and with reduced emissions. More than 2,000 patients have already benefited, with deliveries running up to 85% faster than road-based logistics on some routes.

Environmental and Cost Benefits

The electric drones generate 98% less CO₂ per delivery than a van, and on certain routes the cost is up to 23% lower than traditional urgent courier services. The service is expected to meaningfully reduce the network's dependence on conventional road vehicles.

Kate Slemeck, Executive Director at St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said the technology helps deliver faster, greener healthcare while maintaining patient safety.

First NHS Primary Care Site in the UK to Use Drones Routinely

Nelson Health Centre, which serves more than 27,000 patients, is the first NHS primary care facility in the United Kingdom to conduct regular specimen collections by drone. Andy Christodoulou of Community Health Partnerships described the drone operation as reliable and non-disruptive to day-to-day clinic activity.

Dr Sabena Mughal, NHS Paediatric Consultant and Director of Medical Partnerships at Apian, said drone delivery has become an indispensable part of medical logistics. Apian — co-founded by NHS clinicians — has already delivered thousands of specimens across London, supporting time-critical decisions in areas such as cardiac emergencies and paediatric diagnostics.

SWLP and Apian plan to further expand their drone network, extending coverage across a broader area of southwest London.

原文來源： 查看原文