Drones to deliver defibrillators in new 999 emergency response project

A new research project will test how drones could be integrated into the UK’s 999 emergency response system to rapidly deliver defibrillators to people experiencing out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).

Launched by the University of Surrey, Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS) and South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb), the 16-month project is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). It aims to explore how drone technology could help overcome one of the biggest challenges in cardiac arrest care, delivering defibrillation quickly enough to save a life.

“Rapid intervention is vital in managing out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. As demand continues to grow, the opportunity to integrate this technology into future healthcare systems represents real progress in ensuring ambulance services can work with the communities they serve to strengthen the chain of survival and give patients the best chance of a positive outcome. Being a partner in this research, we are eager to explore how this new initiative could strengthen our cardiac arrest care pathway.”

Dr Craig Mortimer, Research Manager at SECAmb.

Survival rates for OHCA in the UK remain below 10 per cent, with time to treatment being a critical factor. While public Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are now more widely available, getting one to the scene in time can still prove difficult.

The study will be delivered in two parts. The first will simulate how drone delivery could work in real time, coordinating 999 call taking, Air Traffic Control, ambulance dispatch and drone operation.

The second will involve interviews with survivors, family members, responders and members of the public to better understand perceptions of drone use, identify barriers and ensure the system is straightforward for emergency responders to use.

“This research is the first step towards integrating drone technology into our emergency response systems. Our ultimate goal is to develop and test the procedures needed to seamlessly introduce drone delivery of AEDs into the 999 emergency system.”

Dr Scott Munro, Lecturer in Paramedic Practice at the University of Surrey and co-lead on the project.

If successful, the project could pave the way for the first operational use of drones in 999 emergency responses, marking a significant step forward in the use of unmanned technology in pre-hospital care.

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