Devon Freewheelers links with Poundbury

Some of you may have seen our Blood Delivery Car driving through Poundbury, and doubtless many of you will have seen Pegasus (Peggy), the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance (DSAA) flying over Poundbury on its way to the Dorset County Hospital (DCH).

DFW car with Peggy

Devon Freewheelers Emergency Voluntary Service (DFW), although a Devon-based Charity (Reg. No. 1180264), with its HQ in Honiton, has very definite links with Poundbury.  We operate a team of 10 Volunteer Drivers based in Dorchester, 3 of whom live in Poundbury.  The sole aim of this team is to ensure the supply of blood products and sterilised equipment to the DSAA.

Thanks to the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, we are allowed to park our Blood Delivery Car at the Poundbury Fire Station.  This gives us quick and easy access to DCH, from where we collect blood products and sterilised equipment to deliver to the DSAA at their base at Henstridge Airfield on the Dorset/Somerset border. 

Generally, these deliveries take place every 48 hours.  Fresh blood supplies and equipment are delivered, and any unused blood is returned to the DCH Blood Lab, with any used equipment taken to the DCH Decontamination Unit.  During periods of hot weather, these deliveries are made every 24 hours to ensure that the blood remains within certain temperature limits. Blood products are used by the DSAA Critical Care Team at the scene of major incidents, where the ability to administer a blood transfusion is often critical to saving lives. 

Delivery of blood boxes and equipment

The other important link that DFW has with Poundbury lies with the DFW Volunteer Drivers.  At present, 2 of the current 10 volunteers live in Poundbury, hopefully this will soon be 3 volunteers, as a new driver is currently going through the joining process.

Each Volunteer Driver is ‘on duty’ for 24 hours from midnight.  So apart from the scheduled deliveries, we always have someone available to replenish the blood whenever it has to be used.  This can occur at any time day or night. 

DFW has been supporting the DSAA every hour of every day since the summer of 2016, when the DSAA first started carrying blood products for transfusion.  This is a 24/7/365 commitment by DFW.  Our ’mission’ is to try and ensure that Peggy never leaves the ground without an adequate supply of blood products on board.

In 2024 we undertook 252 deliveries to the DSAA, 52 of which were to replenish used blood stocks after use at a major trauma incident.

Up to the end of September this year, we have undertaken 154 deliveries, of which 32 were replenishments following the use of blood at a major trauma incident.

All of this is at no cost whatsoever to the DSAA or NHS, DFW relies solely upon donations from the public, businesses and organisations.  We have been very fortunate this year in being supported by Wessex Property Service who have generously donated a fuel card for our use, and also a substantial cash donation from The Osmington Tuesday Dancers, and an agreement with the Howards Motor Group Family Charitable Partnership Programme to undertake the MOT and servicing of our Blood Delivery Car.

If you want to find out more about Devon Freewheelers, please visit the website Devonfreewheelers.org.uk where you can view a video ‘Hidden Heroes’ which includes a section covering an actual delivery to the DSAA, and an endorsement from Dr Ian Mew, one of the DSAA Critical Care Doctors.