Volunteer drivers based in and around Dorchester convey vital blood supplies across Dorset and Somerset, to hospitals and incidents.

Thanks to the dedication of the Devon Freewheelers’ (DFW) drivers – and the generous donations from businesses, organisations and the public – patients across Dorset and Somerset are able to receive potentially lifesaving blood components at the scene of an accident.
Major trauma patients suffering life-threatening bleeding, or those with acute medical conditions, benefit greatly if a blood transfusion can be given at the scene and during their subsequent evacuation to hospital.

The charity DFW provides a free transport and courier service, supporting the NHS, air ambulances, surgeries and the community. Using the dedicated blood delivery car based at the Dorchester Fire Station in Poundbury, a team of 10 local DFW volunteer drivers is on call 24/7 every day of the year to transport blood to the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance (DSAA).
Blood products are collected by DFW volunteer drivers from the Blood Transfusion Laboratory at Dorset County Hospital every 48 hours and transported to the DSAA base at the Henstridge Airfield on the Dorset Somerset border. Unused blood being returned to DCH as part of the same trip. In the event of the blood being used at the scene of an incident, an immediate replenishment is arranged. The on-call DFW volunteer driver is alerted to undertake the resupply, which can be required at any time day or night. This ensures that the DSAA Critical Care Team always have blood products available for their next response.

In 2021, the DFW team made 230 deliveries to the DSAA at Henstridge. This included 41 unscheduled replenishments, in which blood was needed at the scene of 41 major trauma incidents. This total had already been equalled by the middle of October 2022.

How you can help

Devon Freewheelers is entirely funded by generous donations from the public and local businesses. Just £10 covers the cost of fuel required to make a blood delivery.
You can donate online at www.devonfreewheelers.org.uk using the ‘Donate Now’ facility.
If you email fraggle3966@gmail.com confirming your donation, you will be informed when your delivery was made, and if it was subsequently used to save a life.