Trials in Australia could be signalling the way ahead for a new role for remotely piloted aircraft in the air medical sphere, as James Paul Wallis reports. Drones have long since proved their worth as an aerial search tool and this year have grabbed headlines by assisting in rescues of swimmers in the surf. Could they also assist in responding to trauma alongside traditional HEMS crews? There are two distinct avenues being actively investigated in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. The trials involved short-range flights to and from helipad at the Royal North Shore Hospital helipad with the drone kept within visual line of sight (VLOS), but the ultimate aim would be to be able to fly further afield. The idea of using UAVs to deliver blood is not new. In Rwanda, for example, the Ministry of Health has partnered with Zipline to set up a system where fixed-wing drones deliver blood products to regional hospitals on demand.

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