Scotland’s first drone port to trial delivery of NHS medical supplies

Scotland’s first drone port will trial the collection and delivery of medical supplies for the NHS next month.

Mercury Drone Ports, based in Montrose, Angus, will provide an airspace for devices to operate to and from multiple healthcare facilities between Angus and Dundee assisting with the response to the pandemic.

The trials will begin in March and aim to provide the NHS with an on-demand collection and delivery service.

The process will help transport medical equipment, samples and medicine via an unmanned aircraft to and from healthcare facilities assisting with the response to Covid-19.

The new environmentally friendly mode of transportation will allow samples to be collected from local medical practices for analysis at pathology laboratories at larger hospitals quicker and more reliably than current transport alternatives.

Angus Council leader, councillor David Fairweather, said: “By introducing drone transportation services and working with the NHS we can play our part in transforming the health system in Angus.

“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.”

UK Government minister for Scotland Iain Stewart said: “Drones have huge potential in Scotland, from connecting health services to remote communities, to helping maintain renewable energy installations, to assisting with Scottish aquaculture and environmental monitoring. 

“The UK Government is investing in Scotland’s first Drone Port in Montrose to put Scotland at the forefront of innovation while bringing new jobs and investment to Angus. 

“We are also supporting the innovative use of drones in the west of Scotland at Oban, with support from the Argyll and Bute Growth Deal and the UK’s Community Renewal Fund as part of £1.7bn investment to level-up communities across Scotland.”

Mercury Drone Ports will be based within the ZeroFour Hub, a partnership between Angus Council and Crown Estate Scotland, which currently has planning permission in principle for a mixed-use business park.

The new hub along with the drone port, forms part of Angus Council’s long-term plans to drive sustainable development, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve energy efficiency and create renewable solutions for transportation and energy across Angus and the wider Tay Cities region.