NEWS
Drones delivering blood samples in SW London
As part of an ongoing trial, the use of drones to deliver blood samples for urgent testing is now embedded as an essential part of the South West London Pathology (SWLP) modernisation agenda, with expansion planned to additional hospital and GP sites. Since February, drones have been picking up samples from the Nelson Health Centre in Raynes Park and delivering them in just over three minutes to the SWLP phlebotomy laboratory at St George’s Hospital in Tooting for testing – a journey that can take up to 30-40 minutes by road. The drones, which are designed
specifically for safe and efficient small package delivery, provide additional logistics resilience, helping ensure rapid, reliable transportation of urgent samples at a time of heightened pressure on NHS services. This is especially vital during the summer months where extreme temperatures are increasing disruption on London’s already highly congested roads. Each flight can handle a payload of up to 1.5kg – enough for around 12 blood tubes. Working with British healthcare logistics startup Apian, SWLP aims to deploy drones to link sites across its network, including St Helier, Croydon and Kingston hospitals, as well as primary care services. SWLP hopes to extend the
trial to next February, adding in further healthcare centres in its area. Simon Brewer, Managing Director of
SWLP said: “We are investing heavily in automation and digitisation, introducing other cuting-edge technologies to improve diagnostic precision and speed across the network. But the impact of this investment will be restricted if samples are still geting stuck on roads. Drones help us move samples faster, cheaper and greener, and are now a core consideration of our logistics plans.” Over 2,000 patients have already
benefited from deliveries that are up to 85% faster than ground logistics. By speeding up test results, the service allows clinicians to provide more timely and effective care for patients. Wider rollout has the potential to save SWLP money by reducing reliance on vans and motorbikes across its network.
UK joins rare-diseases research partnership
The UK has joined the world’s largest rare-diseases research partnership, the European Rare Diseases Research Alliance (ERDERA). This strategic partnership marks a
significant milestone of collaboration for UK science. It offers hope for people and families in the UK who are experiencing a rare disease. Rare diseases by definition affect small numbers of patients. Fewer than five in every 10,000 people. But as there are more than 7,000 rare diseases, together they impact roughly 3.5 million people in the UK and over 300 million people globally. This makes international collaboration essential to speed up research and improve care. This commitment opens new pathways
for UK researchers to participate in international clinical trials, accelerating the pace of research to improve diagnosis and treatment for rare disease patients
worldwide. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), has become the first UK funder to co-fund calls for proposals through this alliance. Professor Lucy Chappell, CEO of the NIHR, said: “Rare diseases can have a serious impact on patients and families, and progress depends on countries working together. Through ERDERA, UK researchers will be able to take part in international studies and clinical trials that aim to improve diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases. This partnership brings together expertise and resources from many countries, helping research move faster and improve outcomes for patients.” ERDERA is the world’s largest rare-
diseases research partnership. It brings together 180 organisations across 37 countries, including EU member states.
August 2026
WWW.PATHOLOGYINPRACTICE.COM 11
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56
