Drones could soon be used to deliver urgent medical supplies, the transport secretary announced today. Grant Shapps said trials of the devices had been ‘fast-tracked’ due to the ‘urgent need’, adding that he hoped they would aid the response to COVID-19.
The trial will begin next week to courier items from Southampton to St Mary's Hospital on the Isle of Wight. Speaking at the daily press briefing on Friday (April 24), Mr Shapps said: "I’ve given the green light to trials of drones to deliver medical supplies. "Earlier this year we awarded £28 million to Southampton and Portsmouth to deliver a future transport zone. "As part of that initiative, £8 million was earmarked for testing drones and how they might be used to deliver goods in the