Matternet – which specialises in urban drone delivery, carrying lab samples, pharmaceuticals, and medical supplies - will be joining healthcare logistics startup Apian's multi-operator platform, marking its operational debut in the UK.

This builds on the success of Apian's existing service at Guy's and St Thomas' with Wing, which has demonstrated how on-demand drone delivery enables improved clinical productivity, cost savings and CO2 emission reductions. The expansion will add additional routes and a focus on NHS pathology networks, including centralised hubs like Synlab Blackfriars, helping process tens of millions of tests each month.

Apian is also advancing plans for autonomous ground delivery robots, designed to automate the final ‘clinical metre' of hospital logistics. The robots will enable hands-free transport of samples and supplies directly between delivery drones and clinical teams, reducing delays and freeing up staff. Apian is working with Great Ormond Street Hospital to scope the integration of this technology alongside its drone operations.

The company continues to work closely with the Civil Aviation Authority, as well as NATS, the air traffic management service, to ensure the safety of drone operations.

Professor Ian Abbs, chief executive of Guy's and St Thomas', said: ‘The drone trial has been an innovative way to help us care for our most vulnerable patients by speeding up test results, and doing this in a way which is sustainable.'

Apian co-founder and chief executive, Alexander Trewby, added: ‘We're building intelligent infrastructure that quietly transforms care. Our new partner Matternet brings choice and scale, helping us create logistics that work invisibly in the background and freeing up clinical teams to focus on the patients who need it most.'