Testimonials

I just wanted to drop you a very quick line to send add my voice – I’m sure there are many – to those paying tribute to your S&T report. It’s a huge – and hugely challenging – piece of work. While understandably hard-hitting and difficult in its content I hope it supports the necessary changes and has brought some degree of closure to everyone who has been so deeply impacted by the events there. I’ve been so impressed by the way that the families have carried themselves throughout this whole ordeal and I’m in no doubt that they have been hugely appreciative of the typically kind and thoughtful way that you have gone about your difficult work.

Well done again on the report.

With all good wishes

Mr P, March 2022

Congratulations to Donna & all the Team. 

Amazing to hear all the positivity from colleagues saying the National recommendations are what they have been proposing for years!! 

Donna, you represented the families trauma so well, throughout all the media coverage. 

Midwife colleague NHS, March 2022

Dear Donna and team

I am truly proud to have worked with you, learned and given the opportunity to give justice to the families. 

This was an amazing presentation and introduction to our Review, which has filled me with pride and the confidence we have worked relentlessly the last years to bring in significant change. 

Thank you for your leadership.

Chief Midwife and Divisional Chief Nurse colleague, March 2022

Dear Donna, thank you so much for all you have done leading the Review.  It has been an absolute pleasure and an honour to be in your team and to contribute to this work.  Your passion and drive to get the best result possible for our families has been inspiring. 

Midwife colleague NHS, March 2022

Dear Donna, It has been pleasure working with you. Thank you for your tireless hard work for the families and our Maternity Services of the future.

Consultant in Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, March 2022

I do want to proffer my extreme thanks to you Donna, and the team, it has been a privilege to be part of this and share the same drive and passion for safe maternity care.

Consultant Midwife NHS, March 2022

I am ever so grateful for the opportunity to work alongside this brilliant multi-professional team and to be part of the journey finding answers for families and bringing system-wide change. Thanks to Donna for her excellent leadership. Congratulations on the completion of Report 2! 

Consultant in O and G NHS colleague, March 2022

Dear Donna,

It has been a privilege working with you and members of the review team.

Your enthusiasm, diligence and brilliant leadership is admirable and highly appreciated.

Best wishes

Consultant in O and G NHS colleague, March 2022

Donna, your sheer determination, focus and grit to improve maternity safety and support our families is inspirational, thank you. Yours in admiration.

Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist NHS Colleague, March 2022

To Donna,

It has been an absolute privilege to work alongside you and the many wonderful midwives, doctors and admin staff, on what I hope will be the changing face of midwifery.  

Midwife colleague NHS, March 2022

Thank you for all your hard work and for allowing me to be a very small cog in a large machine.  It has been a privilege to work with you.  

Midwife colleague NHS, March 2022

It has been a privilege to work for the Ockenden review. Thank you Donna for your vision, kindness, organisation and commitment to the improvement in Maternity Services. 

Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist NHS colleague, March 2022

Dear Donna

Thank for you for unrelenting hard work and dedication. The report and all you have done will hopefully improve the safety of maternity services in England for years to come. It has been a pleasure working on the review. 

Consultant Obstetrician and Maternal Medicine Specialist, March 2022

Thank you, Donna for all of your efforts and drive to really listen to women and their families experiences. It has been a privilege to be part of this.

Midwife colleague NHS, March 2022

Thank you for the opportunity to work with an amazing team under your brilliant leadership. For the opportunity to do families justice and to improve safety in maternity! Best wishes, Lauren. 

Midwife colleague NHS, March 2022

Dear Donna

Thank you for all your hard work, a fantastic voice and advocate for families and professionals.

Consultant Neonatologist NHS, March 2022

Dear Donna,

Your relentless pursuit of what you believe in is inspiring. I am honoured to have been part of your team.

Consultant Anaesthetist colleague NHS, March 2022

Really well done for championing safer maternity care – you are inspiring. Doing what is right rather that what is easy is challenging, especially where politics becomes involved

Consultant Obstetrician, December 2021

‘Dear Donna

It gave me great pleasure to watch the news tonight and see you leading the review at Shrewsbury.

I know your professionalism and thoroughness from our dealings locally. You are well placed to be conducting such an important review.’ – Dr H, GP colleague December 2021

‘Today has been momentous for everyone but especially you as the Chair of the review. I feel immensely proud to be a part of the team and hope to make a difference. Thank you once again for the opportunity!’

Midwife and team member – The Maternity review December 2021

‘Dear Donna

Well done with the release of the report which is shocking to read, but will help the families I believe. I was horrified by the section on lack of communication skills and disappointed by the poor clinical practice during my watch. As you say implementation is the challenge, maybe some of the recommendations need to be bound up in legal requirements, with very tight accountability.

Good move to have a non exec on the board with responsibility for women and children.

I believe that your work invites much self analysis by both the RCOG and RCM with other professional groups, but such analysis must involve listening to women who use the service for the whole of NHS including Scotland!’ 

Retired NHS consultant December 2021

Hi Donna, I wanted to write and thank you so much for your input on the webinar this evening. It was so nice and refreshing to hear a true reflection of the unbearable challenges in maternity services currently. I am praying your voice is and continues to be heard loud and clear to get us to a place we are so desperately in need of. I am so emotional listening to you, I hope there is a change quick enough to keep midwives and myself in a profession we/I love so much. Thank you!

Ms W, August 2021

Donna Ockenden it is so special and proud to know you and all you have achieved for all those families ?? you are inspirational xx 

Registered Nurse PE, May 2021

‘What you’re doing is nothing short of phenomenal – a massive undertaking for you and the team which is all executed so brilliantly.

 You are so supportive and appreciative of the administrative and clinical teams – I just wanted to say I hope someone’s telling you how proud you should be of all you’re doing for the families involved and for the future of maternity care ?’

Charity CEO, April 2021