First Scots drone port trial to begin transporting medicines to and from Dundee

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Scotland’s first drone port is set to begin trialling collection and delivery of medical supplies and samples for the NHS between Dundee and Angus.

Mercury Drone Ports - based in Montrose, Angus - will provide a trials airspace for drones to operate between multiple healthcare facilities in an effort to improve current transportation methods.

The first drone trials will begin in March, a move which Angus Council leader councillor David Fairweather described as a step in “transforming” the healthcare system for the region.

The new transportation method aims to provide the NHS with an on-demand collection and delivery service, allowing samples to be collected from local medical practices for analysis at pathology laboratories at larger hospitals via a quicker and more reliable service.Mr Fairweather said: “This level of improvement could potentially allow life-saving treatment to be able to commence earlier by reducing testing times, speeding up diagnoses for patients, all at a reduced cost to the NHS by reducing the reliance on expensive taxi transportation that currently exists.“As the significant demands continue for Covid-19 testing, we are delighted to lead the way through innovative technologies to increase connectivity with our rural facilities, at a time that the NHS requires greater support.”Receiving funding from the UK Government’s £26.5 million Angus Fund, as part of the Tay Cities Region Deal, Mercury Drone Ports is a public-private partnership between Angus Council and UK-based drones company DTLX.UK Government Minister for Scotland Iain Stewart said investment from south of the border into Mercury Drone Ports will put Scotland “at the forefront of innovation” and help bring in new jobs to Angus.DundeeLive