A pioneering new initiative aiming to revolutionise medical transport in Wales through the use of autonomous drones has taken a big step forward, bringing together cutting-edge aviation technology and frontline healthcare services.
Funded by Innovate UK, the Dragon’s Heart project, led by Snowdonia Aerospace in partnership with Skyports Drone Services, SLiNK-TECH and Volant Autonomy will accelerate the development of a fully automated drone delivery network designed to support critical services, including the Welsh Blood Service and the Welsh Ambulance Service.
The use of autonomous drones for medical deliveries offers significant advantages for healthcare in Wales, particularly in rural and remote communities where traditional transport can be slower or less reliable.
When it comes to critical medical deliveries, every minute counts and drones provide a fast, efficient solution for transporting essential supplies such as blood products and urgent samples.
By speeding up the delivery of blood products to emergency situations and making it easier to transport supplies across different locations, this technology helps healthcare teams respond more quickly and effectively. It supports emergency services in making timely clinical decisions and strengthens the overall ability of NHS services in Wales to manage urgent medical needs, especially in areas where access is more challenging.
As part of the project, prototype vertical take-off and landing sites, known as vertiports, will be installed at our headquarters in Talbot Green, the Ambulance and Fire Rescue Services resource centre in Wrexham and the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service/Wales Air Ambulance site in Dafen, Llanelli. These facilities will host demonstration flights, allowing NHS staff to engage with the new infrastructure and explore its potential to enhance patient care.
The drone technology being developed will be capable of autonomously detecting and avoiding threats mid-flight, ensuring safe and reliable delivery of medical supplies such as blood products and urgent samples.
Alan Prosser, Director of the Welsh Blood Service, said: “This exciting development represents a major leap forward in how we can deliver urgent medical supplies across Wales.
"By working closely with both the partners of this project, we’re exploring innovative ways to improve the speed, safety, and reach of our transport systems. Harnessing drone technology will help us better serve patients and NHS teams, especially in rural and hard-to-reach areas, ensuring critical resources arrive where they’re needed most.
"Wales is a perfect place to benefit from this due to our landscape, which presents unique logistical challenges for healthcare delivery. This technology offers a practical solution to overcome those barriers and improve outcomes for patients across the country."
Jeremy Howitt, Technical Director at Snowdonia Aerospace Centre, said:
“We’re proud to be building on the foundations laid during the first phase of Future Flight funding, where we explored how drone technology could enhance healthcare logistics across Wales. This next stage allows us to refine the technical elements of the system, integrating autonomous flight guidance, ground-based radar, and medical delivery drones to create a safe and responsive network.
"Crucially, we’re working in close partnership with the Welsh Blood Service and the Welsh Ambulance Service to ensure the system is designed around the practical needs of frontline healthcare teams. Together, we’re helping to make Wales ‘drone-ready’ and better equipped to deliver urgent medical supplies quickly and safely.”
The current phase of the project focuses on strategic growth and regional demonstration, laying the foundation for a fully operational representative prototype drone delivery service from the Welsh Blood Services, Talbot Green Headquarters by 2027.
The Welsh Blood Service remains committed to exploring innovative cutting-edge solutions that enhance healthcare delivery and ensure the best possible outcomes for patients across Wales.