NHS Grampian leads development of guidance on using drones to support public services

NHS Grampian's Innovation Hub is working in partnership with the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) and the Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership (HITRANS) on a project to develop guidance to support the adoption of drones in healthcare services. 

It’s hoped the new guidance, which is being supported by the Department for Transport and the Future Flight Social Insight research programme at the University of Birmingham, will support other public bodies in the future. The aim is that this will act as a blueprint for service providers to understand the practical steps required to ensure new systems are safe, secure and trusted by the public. It builds on the Innovation Hub’s learning from drone trial projects including CAELUS and SATE, which helped to demonstrate the potential for drones to enable faster and more flexible transport options for emergency care and medical supplies in remote and rural areas.

The Flight Path to Trust project provides clarity on the requirements public sector organisations wishing to use drones need to consider before engaging with the aviation sector. It will help to make sure public services are better placed to progress this kind of innovation and help the UK realise the economic benefits of this trade.

Dr Andy Keen, Clinical Director of Innovation at NHS Grampian explained: “Flight Path to Trust represents an important step in helping health services understand how emerging drone technologies can be safely, ethically, and effectively embedded into the delivery of high quality healthcare. Our collaborative approach is shaping practical guidance that will support services across the country make informed decisions about future adoption as this technology evolves. 

“By enabling faster access to critical supplies, diagnostics and specialist support, this technology has the potential to save lives and help patients get the care they need more quickly. This can, in turn, improve health outcomes and reduce longstanding inequities in how care is delivered.” 
 
Logistics and emergency care can be particularly challenging for health services in remote and rural areas. The introduction of aviation technology could add to the suite of transport options available to NHS and SAS staff in the future to move items quickly between locations. It has the potential to not only improve connectivity between healthcare facilities but also support the redesign of services in years to come to deliver services closer to people’s homes.

Professor Paul Gowens from the Scottish Ambulance Service said: “Drone-enabled logistics and emergency support has the potential to support our crews and enhance patient care. Our involvement in the Flight Path to Trust project ensures that frontline operational expertise has been built into the guidance from the outset, helping to ensure it is practical, safe and aligned with real world pre-hospital and emergency response needs.”

Dawn Gillies, Sustainable Aviation Development Manager from HITRANS, added: “The Flight Path to Trust project has delivered vital insights into how uncrewed aerial systems can be safely and effectively integrated into NHS operations. The work has helped demonstrate how future flight technologies can strengthen healthcare delivery across the HITRANS region. This is an important step toward a more resilient, responsive, and sustainable public‑sector transport ecosystem.”

For more information, or if you are aware of promising emerging healthcare technology that NHS Grampian may be able to evaluate for real world use, please email gram.innovation-hub@nhs.scot  

NHS Grampian’s Innovation Hub was established in 2016 with aims to match the best ideas and solutions with our most difficult healthcare challenges. The team works with patients, colleagues, industry partners and academia to improve patient care for today, building on the legacy of innovation in the North-east for generations to come.