SWLP, Apian and Wing Expand Medical Sample Drone Delivery Across South West London

SWLP, Apian and Wing Expand Medical Sample Drone Delivery Across South West London

South West London Pathology (SWLP) is expanding its drone-based medical specimen delivery service, working with UK healthcare logistics startup Apian and global drone operator Wing to roll out the initiative to more NHS sites across south-west London.

Specimens Delivered in Under Three Minutes

Since February this year, drones have been making regular collections from the Nelson Health Centre in Raynes Park, delivering medical specimens to SWLP's laboratory at St George's Hospital in Tooting in approximately three minutes. SWLP serves a population of 1.8 million patients and processes up to 51 million specimens annually for all NHS trusts and GP practices across south-west London.

SWLP Executive Director Simon Brewer said: "We are investing heavily in automation and digitalisation, introducing a range of cutting-edge technologies to improve the accuracy and speed of diagnostics across our network. However, if specimens are still being delayed by road traffic, the impact of those investments is significantly undermined. Drones help us move specimens faster, at lower cost and in a more environmentally friendly way, and have become a core consideration in our logistics planning."

Significant Patient and Clinical Benefits

More than 2,000 patients have already benefited from the service, with delivery speeds up to 85% faster than ground-based logistics. By accelerating turnaround times for test results, clinicians are able to provide more timely and effective care.

On the cost side, drones have proven up to 23% cheaper than existing urgent courier services on certain routes, with costs expected to continue falling — potentially reducing SWLP's reliance on van and motorcycle couriers.

From an environmental perspective, the NHS accounts for 4% of the UK's total carbon emissions. Electric drones produce 98% less CO₂ per delivery than vans, helping to cut carbon output and improve air quality across London.

First Regular NHS Primary Care Collections by Drone

The inclusion of the Nelson Health Centre marks a milestone — this is the first time drones have been used for regular collections from an NHS primary care facility rather than a hospital. The centre provides community healthcare services to 27,000 patients.

Andy Christodoulou, Senior Portfolio Manager at Community Health Partnerships, which manages the site, described the development as "a remarkable innovation that helps the NHS maintain smooth and efficient operations while extending community services. The drones are reliable and unobtrusive, and NHS staff and patients are always delighted to see them. This project demonstrates how modern, fit-for-purpose NHS LIFT [Local Improvement Finance Trust] infrastructure can enable forward-thinking innovation."

Apian and Wing's Expansion Plans

Apian, a startup co-founded by NHS doctors, is working with Wing — the drone delivery operator owned by Alphabet — to scale the technology. Wing has now completed more than one million commercial deliveries worldwide and is rapidly expanding its retail partnerships with Walmart and DoorDash in the United States, while regarding the NHS as its flagship partner for healthcare applications.

Wing Chief Commercial Officer Heather Rivera said: "We are incredibly excited about the results Wing, Apian and the NHS are achieving together in south-west London. Our reliable, lightweight drone technology is delivering clear benefits for local communities."

Dr Sabena Mughal, Director of Healthcare Partnerships at Apian and an NHS paediatric consultant, said: "Drone delivery is no longer a novelty — it has become an integral part of healthcare logistics. We have already delivered thousands of specimens across London, helping clinicians make time-critical decisions for cardiac patients and speeding up vital diagnoses for paediatric patients. These services are improving clinical outcomes while simultaneously reducing costs and carbon emissions. With these benefits now firmly established, our goal is to expand the network across the whole of the UK."

Real-World Impact at St George's University Hospitals

Kate Slemeck, Executive Director at St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, added: "Harnessing drone technology is helping clinicians deliver more timely and effective care, allowing us to conduct rapid, reliable testing of urgent specimens and cutting delivery times from around 20 minutes to just over three minutes."

"Not long ago this would have sounded like science fiction — now it is everyday reality on our hospital campus. Drones are helping us deliver faster, greener healthcare, reducing emissions while keeping patient safety at the forefront."

SWLP plans to extend its drone service to St Helier, Croydon and Kingston hospitals, as well as additional primary care sites, building a drone-based medical logistics network across south-west London.

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