A drone service to support the Isle of Wight NHS in the UK

With interest in drone delivery growing throughout the world, this study explores the challenges associated with developing a medical drone logistics service to support the National Health Service on the Isle of Wight in the UK. Two separate trials were undertaken to investigate the potential for drone delivery in this area, carrying medical goods and aseptic cancer medicines. The first trial took place using a fixed-wing drone during COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, whilst the second used hybrid fixed-wing vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone. Key findings suggested that electric VTOL drones present significant advantages in terms of point-to-point direct servicing, emissions, and time-savings, though range and payload limitations introduce further challenges. Legislation, airspace management, and technology findings were also made, with legacy regulations causing barriers to carriage of medical goods by drone. Future work seeks to understand the costs and benefits of a more sustained service in a medical setting