DRONES have been flying over St Mary's Hospital in practice runs, before they start delivering chemotherapy for Island cancer patients.

Lois Holwell, director of governance and risk at the Isle of Wight NHS Trust, posted the photo on Twitter on Friday and said: "Very exciting to see further trials of the drone on the helipad at St Mary’s this morning! Go #TeamIOW — always a beacon of innovation."

The trust, and Apian, are in the midst of a three month drone trial to optimise the delivery and research the benefits to healthcare of transporting urgent clinical items over The Solent using uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs).

If the research is successful, the clinical items will include the world’s first delivery of chemotherapy by drone in November.

The trial hopes to solve some of the logistics challenges experienced as a result of the pandemic by providing efficient transport solutions for medicinal supplies.

Before the Isle of Wight NHS Trust approves flying live chemotherapy, the University of Southampton, supported by Solent Transport, is testing the impact of drone flight, such as vibration and temperature, on redundant medicine.

Read more: Isle of Wight cancer patients to receive chemo by drone

Isle of Wight County Press:

The UAVs are electric, vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft weighing 85kg, with a wingspan of 5m capable of carrying up to 20kg of payload.

They were designed and developed by Skylift.

They will be based at the British Army’s Baker Barracks on Thorney Island and flown by former RAF, Royal Navy and airline pilots trained by Flyby Technology.

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