The NHS is to use Google’s autonomous drones to fly blood samples between London hospitals in an effort to speed up medical tests. Wing, the drone operator owned by Google’s parent company Alphabet, has been chosen to deliver high-priority samples between Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospitals in south London. The trial could start as soon as this summer and will be the first use of Wing’s drones in the UK, meaning the company is likely to beat Amazon to launching this year. The company’s white and yellow aircraft, roughly a metre high and wide, can travel at up to 58 miles per hour and for up to six miles. It is working with the medical logistics company Apian, which is made up of former NHS doctors and Google employees, and whose drone trials are being funded by the health service. Wing’s involvement in the trial was revealed by airspace change proposals lodged with the Civil Aviation Authority that redacted the company’s name but contained images of drones featuring Wing’s logo. The drones are expected to fly between the hospitals’ roofs, with flights limited to 10 a day, only on weekdays and between 9am and 5pm. Hundreds of blood samples are...