The project between Mater Pathology and drone logistics company Swoop Aero has been awarded $1.8 million in federal funding to expand operations.

Faster deliveries are predicted to slash times for urgent blood samples and other tests at Mater’s Springfield laboratories, with patients on islands off the Queensland coast among those to benefit.

The new drone fleet is expected to collect more than 80,000 samples a year.

“There’s no doubt that drones can help to improve a range of health services for Queenslanders … especially those living in remote or hard to access locations,” Mater director of innovation Maree Knight said.

The service will cover patients at the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service on Stradbroke Island, as well as other patients across Russell Island, Macleay Island, the Redlands and Hope Island on the Gold Coast.

Mater general manager Deb Hornsby said it would be the first pathology service in Australia to collect samples with drones.

“Drones are safe, reliable and so much faster than ferries and cars, which means we save valuable time in diagnosing and treating vulnerable patients,” she said.

The Emerging Aviation Technology Partnerships funding will also provide end-to-end logistics services to the Darling Downs Health and Hospital Service and Pathology Queensland.

Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said the program will improve health services for regional communities, while also enhancing the capability of Australian businesses to deliver more complex aviation operations.

Swoop Aero CEO Eric Peck said the partnership will support “the world’s first and largest fully integrated drone logistics network”.