Publish date: 8 August 2024
Partners to change drone site in Northumbria to ensure maximum benefits from the project
The location for a proposed drone hub in Northumberland will change after hearing feedback from the local community.
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Apian and Zipline were planning to initially build a drone hub near Seghill to support the delivery of medical supplies. This innovative form of transportation is faster, efficient and more environmentally friendly.
Following engagement with the local community, the partners plan to withdraw their application to build the facility on land north of Seghill and to the south-east of the Northumbria hospital in Cramlington and will explore alternatives to progress the project.
The decision comes after an engagement event was held in Seghill last month, where representatives from the three organisations spoke to more than 100 residents to share information about the proposed operations and listen to their views.
Andrew Edmunds, director of innovation at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are grateful to all those who attended the event to find out more about the project and discuss the drone hub proposals. We made a commitment that we would listen to people, and we have done that, by taking their feedback as part of the decision not to progress with the hub’s currently planned site.
“This decision has been influenced by many factors. Overall, it is clear that there is also a great deal of support from the community and stakeholders to bring drones to Northumbria. We believe that the use of drones will improve some of the healthcare services we provide in North Tyneside and Northumberland.
“We remain committed to bringing faster and more environmentally friendly drone delivery to Northumbria and will continue to explore alternative sites so we can maximise the benefits of these innovative technologies for NHS services.”
As part of the process, more than 100 sites have been considered to host the drone hub, with aviation safety and proximity to Northumbria Healthcare facilities among the main considerations.
Dr Christopher Law, from Apian, added: “Drones significantly benefit the NHS and its patients, and gaining the trust and support of the community where we will operate is vital.
“This invaluable process has brought us one step closer to realising on-demand delivery across the region and beyond, improving health outcomes for all. We are excited about the possibilities and grateful for the valuable input from our community.”
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