18 December 2025
A drone service delivering NHS samples and supplies between Cornwall mainland and the Isles of Scilly has been announced.
Open Skies Network and Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust have agreed the NHS medical drone delivery service in a multi-year partnership.
Initially, this will include delivery of things like pathology samples and medical supplies across the region. In the future, they say they will explore the potential to use piloted electric aircraft for medical transport.
Testing flights and infrastructure upgrades have been going on this year and the team is aiming for a regular official service to be up and running towards the end of 2026.
Gareth Whatmore, CEO at Open Skies Network, said, “From drone deliveries of testing kits and PPE during Covid, to the first long-haul and intra-island medical drone operations, our previous work in Cornwall has led UK capability for the NHS when it comes to drone-enabled healthcare logistics.”
That previous work includes trials funded by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Future Flight Challenge programme.
NHS delivery drones are expected to operate between Isles of Scilly hospital and Truro, Cornwall. Photo: NHS
Councillor Avril Mumford, Lead Member for Adults and Public Health at the Council for the Isles of Scilly, said, ”This is exciting news for everyone on the islands, as our community often faces significant time and cost barriers when accessing health and care services.”
Open Skies Network, a commercial company with a base at Newquay Airport, has already developed a shared airspace Concept of Operations partnership with the UK CAA and local aerodromes in the southwest for drone operations.
