Llanelli to host pioneering NHS drone hub as Wales trials autonomous medical deliveries

Dafen site chosen for key vertiport

The Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service/Wales Air Ambulance base in Dafen, Llanelli has been confirmed as one of three sites to host prototype vertical take‑off and landing facilities — known as vertiports — as part of the Dragon’s Heart project.

The Llanelli hub will be used to demonstrate how drones can carry blood products and urgent medical samples directly between NHS sites, helping frontline teams respond more quickly to emergencies.

Local NHS staff will be able to engage with the new infrastructure during demonstration flights, exploring how the technology could enhance patient care in Carmarthenshire and beyond.

Transforming rural healthcare

While the drone network is designed to connect NHS facilities across Wales, its impact will be especially significant in rural and hard‑to‑reach communities. By bypassing road congestion and geographic barriers, drones offer a faster, more reliable way to deliver life‑saving supplies where they’re needed most.

“Harnessing drone technology will help us better serve patients and NHS teams, ensuring critical resources arrive where they’re needed most,” said Alan Prosser, Director of the Welsh Blood Service.

A Wales‑wide network with Llanelli at its heart

Alongside Llanelli, vertiports will also be installed at the Welsh Blood Service headquarters in Talbot Green and the Ambulance and Fire Rescue Services resource centre in Wrexham. Together, these sites will form the backbone of a future drone delivery network.

The technology includes autonomous flight guidance, ground‑based radar, and real‑time threat avoidance systems, ensuring safe and efficient operation even in complex environments.

Looking ahead to 2027

The current phase focuses on regional demonstration and strategic growth, with the goal of launching a fully operational prototype service from Talbot Green by 2027.

The Welsh Blood Service says it remains committed to exploring cutting‑edge solutions that improve healthcare delivery and patient outcomes across Wales — with Llanelli playing a key role in shaping the future of NHS transport.

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Ystalyfera cardiac arrest survivor reunited with lifesaving neighbours and ambulance crews

In March, Kealey Reilly was woken by a sound she first thought was snoring. Her husband Oliver, 38, was in fact experiencing agonal breathing — a sign of cardiac arrest.

Realising something was seriously wrong, Kealey dialled 999 while the couple’s 12‑year‑old daughter Florence ran next door to alert neighbours Hannah and Matthew Miers, both off‑duty police officers trained in CPR.

The couple took over chest compressions, assisted by another neighbour — a retired auxiliary nurse — while a public access defibrillator, installed just months earlier and located 120 metres away, was retrieved and used.

Welsh Ambulance Service paramedic Vikki Davies and emergency medical technicians Colin Read, Jamie Higgins and Gavin Treseder soon arrived, with advanced critical care support provided by the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS) in a Wales Air Ambulance charity helicopter.

Oliver was taken to Morriston Hospital by ambulance, supported by the EMRTS crew, and spent three weeks in an induced coma.

“I owe my life to Kealey, Florence, and our neighbours Hannah and Matthew,” said Oliver. “Kealey’s quick reaction, Florence’s bravery in seeking help, and the strength shown by Hannah and Matthew were extraordinary. You’ve allowed me to be here today for my children and for that I will be eternally grateful.”

The Welsh Ambulance Service has formally recognised Hannah and Matthew Miers with a Chief Executive’s Commendation for their actions.

Kealey said doctors had warned Oliver might never walk or talk again, but he had defied all expectations.

“We were extremely lucky; everything was in place for him to survive. Not many people can say they’ve saved someone’s life, let alone their neighbour’s. I’m extremely grateful to Hannah and Matthew — they absolutely deserve this recognition.”

Carl Powell, Clinical Lead for Acute Care at the Welsh Ambulance Service, said Oliver’s survival showed the importance of CPR and defibrillators.

“Your chances of surviving a cardiac arrest are significantly improved if there are people trained in CPR and a defibrillator is brought to the scene. I would urge everyone to learn CPR and sign up to the GoodSAM app in Wales to help create a nation of life savers.”

The Welsh Ambulance Service, Save a Life Cymru and the Resuscitation Council UK have partnered to provide tailored support for cardiac arrest survivors, their families and bystanders, including resources for young people and co‑survivors.

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