Boots has become the first community pharmacy in the UK to transport prescription-only medicines by drone, successfully completing a flight between Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight.
The flight departed from the British Army’s Baker Barracks on Thorney Island near Portsmouth and arrived at St Mary’s Hospital in Newport. The medicines were collected by Boots and transported to its pharmacies across the Island, where they will be dispensed to patients with prescriptions for them.
Boots worked with medical drone startup Apian to facilitate the test flight and is now assessing the future potential for drones in medicines delivery.
Rich Corbridge, Chief Information Officer at Boots, said:
“Drones have huge potential in the delivery of medicines and it is incredibly exciting to be the first community pharmacy in the UK to transport them in this way. An island location like the Isle of Wight seemed like a sensible place to start a trial of drones and their value to the delivery of medicines to more remote locations is very clear.
“In this trial, we will be looking at how much time we can save, as well as how we can incorporate drones into our medicines supply chain to create economic efficiencies too. We want to prepare now for the wider use of this technology in the future.”
Max Coppin, Chief Operating Officer at Apian, said:
“Not only can drones deliver medicine to hospitals but we are particularly excited about our partnership with Boots as it demonstrates drones can also help bring care closer to communities. Whilst faster and more reliable than ground transportation they bring with them additional environmental benefits and offer a more sustainable solution for delivery.”
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Why does it need rainbow stripes? Do they help create the bernouli effect essential to aviation.
Missed them on the wright flyer.
It’s a gay drone hence the rainbow colours.
Poor thing, dosent know what is. Wings like a normal aeroplane, and rotors for lift.
On an inclusive note it will have to ‘transition’ from ‘straight’ and level flight to a hover before touch down.
And please, no jokes about touch ‘up’.
When will they take paying passengers, should be cheeper than ferry in future!.
Whilst faster and more reliable than ground transportation
…
incorrect on one point – ground transportation is rarely affected by wind – these won’t be running in strong winds, however, car ferrys, carrying a van will be.
also – a van can carry tonnes of supplies to pharmacies in one go – how much can one drone carry?
Boots are getting their priorities wrong
They cannot man their pharmacies properly leading to random closures and poor customer service.
They have recently ceased to provide free monitored dosage systems to patients who need support with their medication management despite being the main instigators of the MDS systems.
This drone delivery system is clearly subsidised heavily as it cannot be cost effective.
They need to invest any spare money in staff and maintaining their properties , many branches look very shabby now.
These headline grabbing stunts are damaging their credibility. It will not be sustainable and will fade away.
Boots should spend their profits on building a tunnel…. then no ferry charges and a lot quicker !!
Any chance of flying some doctors over from the mainland
Or dentists
Dear God. We can’t even fly a drone over to supply patients with much needed medicine without LGBTQ+ on its wings. It literally is a joke now and it’s meaning is becoming worthless. You are what you are simple. Maybe it’s time to start a white straight adult male club…. Oh no that would be racist and all the other rubbish.
Wasn’t a rainbow the symbol of the heroes of the NHS during COVID, or were you between the sheets with a bag over your head?
No I was working everyday from the beginning you melt