News • 03.08.2022

From the pharmacy to home – with a drone

Boots completes drone delivery of prescription medicines in UK first

A drone on an airfield
Source: Boots UK

Boots has become the first community pharmacy in the UK to transport prescription-only medicines by uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) – commonly known as drones. The leading health and beauty retailer has already completed a test flight transporting prescription-only medicines by drone from Portsmouth to the Isle of Wight earlier this month.  

  • Boots is assessing the potential for using drones for the delivery of prescription medicines after completing a test flight from Portsmouth to the Isle of Wight  
  • Test flight made Boots the first community pharmacy in the UK to transport prescription medicines by drone 
  • Boots is working with medical drone startup Apian to facilitate a trial

The flight departed from the British Army’s Baker Barracks on Thorney Island near Portsmouth and arrived at St. Mary’s Hospital on the Isle of Wight. 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."

Technical data of the drones

The UAVs are electric, vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, the largest of which weigh 85kg, have a wingspan of 5m and can carry up to 20kg of payload. They were designed and developed by Skylift, who were selected by Apian to be the project’s drone operator partners. They will be based at the British Army’s Baker Barracks on Thorney Island and flown by professional drone pilots. 

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has granted permission for the UAVs to fly in segregated airspace between Baker Barracks on Thorney Island and St Mary’s Hospital’s helipad on the Isle of Wight. 

*The prescription medicines on the UAVs will include those that are regularly dispensed on the Isle of Wight.

Source: Boots UK

related articles:

popular articles:

Thumbnail-Photo: Weekly groceries almost delivering themselves to your doorstep...
09.01.2023   #online trading #e-commerce

Weekly groceries almost delivering themselves to your doorstep

LOXO presents Europe's first autonomous delivery vehicle for last mile delivery

Lack of staff and processes with optimization potential in retail? LOXO kills two birds with one stone and releases the brand new LOXO Alpha on the streets of Switzerland already at the beginning of this year: an innovative answer to the dynamically ...

Thumbnail-Photo: DHL Supply Chain expands partnership with Locus Robotics...
26.10.2022   #logistics #automation

DHL Supply Chain expands partnership with Locus Robotics

Locus autonomous mobile robots double e-commerce productivity for global outdoor apparel retail brand Carhartt

Locus Robotics, a producer of mobile robots (AMRs) for fulfillment warehouses, announces the expansion of their partnership with DHL Supply Chain, the contract logistics leader within Deutsche Post DHL Group. The extended partnership includes the ...

Thumbnail-Photo: Joint forces to create the future of autonomous delivery...
12.12.2022   #Tech in Retail #app

Joint forces to create the future of autonomous delivery

Carrefour and Goggo Network French trialling autonomous delivery of Carrefour Drive orders

Carrefour and Goggo Network are trialling a Mobile Drive service that involves using a completely autonomous delivery vehicle. It will operate on public roads, both in heavy traffic and in normal conditions (covering 15 km at up to 70 km/h) – ...

Thumbnail-Photo: Become the hero of your customers!
11.01.2023   #online trading #e-commerce

Become the hero of your customers!

Optimise your international shipping strategy – here's how

Omnichannel shopping is in high demand. Almost half of European online shoppers ordered internationally last year. For many e-commerce companies, the opportunities offered by selling their goods internationally are tempting. But in order to retain ...

Thumbnail-Photo: Please board, doors close automatically
30.11.2022   #digitization #sustainability

"Please board, doors close automatically"

The "CargoSurfer" project aims to get parcels to their destination sustainably by public transport

Whether by bus, train, suburban railway or underground – public transport should be used more. But why only by us people? That's what the brains behind the CargoSurfer project were asking themselves. Prof. André Ludwig from ...

Thumbnail-Photo: Wolt Drive: Finnish delivery service now makes its fleet available to...
21.11.2022   #online trading #brick and mortar retail

"Wolt Drive": Finnish delivery service now makes its fleet available to all traders

Interview: Wolt offers local traders new opportunities to keep up with online trade

Online retail has dominated the industry not only since the pandemic. Young people in particular, but increasingly older people as well, use the web to do their shopping. This primarily benefits the market-dominating internet giants. In order for ...

Thumbnail-Photo: Black Friday and Cyber Monday: challenges, stumbling blocks and solutions...
23.11.2022   #e-commerce #brick and mortar retail

Black Friday and Cyber Monday: challenges, stumbling blocks and solutions

What matters before, during and after big shopping events

Bargains, deals and savings as far as the eye can see: Black Friday and Cyber Monday are just around the corner, ushering in the most competitive time of the year. We spoke to Stefan Mennecke, Vice President of Sales - MEA, Central, Eastern ...

Thumbnail-Photo: With mailing bags against cardboard shortage & packaging waste...
14.11.2022   #online trading #e-commerce

With mailing bags against cardboard shortage & packaging waste

Interview: Hamburg-based start-up Boomerang tries to solve two problems of online trade with one stone thanks to an innovative idea

Since the pandemic, online trade is booming like never before. But what sounds like a blessing can also become a burden. Packaging waste is increasing rapidly and polluting the environment. At the same time, the global crises are causing a shortage ...