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Donna Ockenden Limited

Professional / staff testimonials

I want you to know what an extraordinary influence you’ve had…My commitment to meaningful quality improvement… my understanding of leadership and communication based on your example, and my self-confidence in my capability.

Your incredible professionalism, care and public speaking skills put us at ease immediately and I’ve watched in awe as you deliver the same to patients and colleagues alike on the NUH review and in the public eye. 

Dr S, July 2024


Thanks so much for sorting out Donna to talk to me, I thought she was brilliant.

Ms C, BBC Radio Shropshire, June 2024


You have my vote to lead the commission you would be fabulous.

Ms R, Director of Midwifery, May 2024


Huge thanks again for joining us at yesterday’s event.

The room was buzzing, in no small part due to your inspirational talk at the start of the day, thank you so much. Thanks for staying on for questions and for talking around the tables too. 

The evaluation feedback at the end of the day was wonderful, with delegates citing your talk.

Really hoping we can use this momentum to drive forward more structural changes in bereavement care across England and the UK more widely. 

Look forward to continued work with you.

Mr H, Charity Representative, March 2024


I contacted you as you managed to bring about so much significant change in maternity by having a no nonsense approach to highlighting failings.

Ms R, Feb 2024


Just a quick note to say a massive thank you for allowing me to be part of this review.   It’s a real privilege to do this.

Mr O, Senior Neonatal Nurse, December 2023


Lovely to meet you in person today, I found it an informative, inspiring and motivating morning. Your presentation was impactful and provided hope and opportunity for change.

Ms S, Head of Programme, October 2023


I would like to express my sincere thanks to Donna for the video.  It will be a great summary and update for those attending our regional training day.  In particular, the answers to the submitted questions are incredibly insightful and will generate a faboulous discussion about the culture and behaviours we foster. 

Mr H, Anaesthetic Registrar, May 2023


It was so lovely to meet you again today. After being a midwife for over 25 years and 20 of those in bereavement it is so heartwarming to hear you speak, see your passion and lift the room with your words, you truly are an inspiration and true advocate for bereaved families and their precious babies something we all hold close to our hearts in the room today.

Ms B, Midwife, March 2023


It was great to hear from you earlier today & I have taken much inspiration from you words. I absolutely agree that we have an unique opportunity to lift our maternity services & change the narrative for both staff & our patients.

Ms R, Student Midwife, October 2022


You are doing an amazing job.

Ms D, Senior Midwife, October 2022


Thank you very much for your help…last Tuesday. We much appreciate your effort and time, and the feedback we have received so far has been excellent. 

Ms A, October 2022


I just wanted to say thank you for all that you have done. I’ve heard from several families  who’ve contributed to your investigations, and they’ve been unfailingly appreciative of what you have done and are doing.

CEO, Maternity Charity, April 2022


I congratulate you on your very eloquent presentation of your report, you must have had such a heart wrenching few years and I am so proud of what you and your team have achieved.

Ms F, March 2022


Thank you for the follow but more importantly thank you for everything you are doing Donna to represent these families that have gone through such tragedy and life changing events.

Ms G, Twitter, March 2022


Hi Donna, Thank you for everything you have done with regard to maternity services… I truly hope things improve for families and staff alike. 

Ms H, March 2022


Dear Donna,

Congratulations to you and the entire team on the publication of the review.

Prof P-J, March 2022


Dear Donna, 

I just wanted to pass on my warmest congratulations. It is so pleasing and makes me very happy to see a woman excel at what they do. I hope you are taking a well-earned rest from what must have been a challenging, albeit very rewarding, time. 

Best and congratulations, 

Ms B, March 2022 


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


Well done Donna for getting to the end of this long and difficult road.  You now deserve a break!  Best wishes. 

Consultant Obstetrician


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


Just a little note to say an enormous thank you for the hard work you’ve all put into this report, and the work around it. 

I truly do think it will make a difference nationally, and we will be right behind you campaigning for it to happen. Thank you for your use of urgent language, and clear direction with what needs to happen – there can be no misinterpretation. 

Baby Lifeline


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


Thanks again for taking part in our maternity event on Wednesday! It was really well executed from start to finish and answered a great range of questions with brilliant insights from all of the speakers.


Just a quick note to say thank you so much for being on the panel. It was a brilliant session that covered all of the bases it needed to in the short space of time. It was thoroughly informative and engaging from start to finish.


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


‘Keep doing what you’re doing. Speaking truth to power is never easy, Your first report was a harrowing and hard read but I greatly respect you for the honesty and humanity you wove into the document. It oozed compassion and I believe that’s exactly what was needed. Take good care, keep well and certainly keep up the excellent work. ‘

NHS Colleague 2021


‘I felt compelled to write. I am the recently appointed lay chair of the Maternity Voices Partnership for XXXXX. There is, rightly so, a renewed focus on listening to service user voices following the publication of your report into maternity services. I felt both saddened and inspired by reading your publication and I feel that we have much to learn, and act on, from it.’ 

MVP Chair


‘I have been thinking of you during this …enquiry. You have done an amazing job and will truly bring much needed action to improve maternity care to help women at long last. Take care..’ 

Midwife G, former NHS Colleague (Twitter, direct message)


‘I just wanted to touch base after today’s report. I know it must have been harrowing and deeply distressing. I think you’ve done brilliantly and I hope your recommendations are followed. Thank you for all you do for mothers and babies.’

GS, Trustee of Charity, Twitter 


‘I hope you’re keeping well. I can’t believe just how much work you must have put into this review and how difficult it must have been, but I hope you’re proud of it and the impact it has [and] the potential for women and their babies for generations to come. Seriously well done.’

CEO in the NHS February 2021, Twitter


‘Your important report is shaping our national and local priorities and has steeled our determination to deliver the very best care for women and babies across the country.’

CEO, NHS March 2021


‘I have nothing but admiration for the Maternity Review which has already achieved so much. It was very gratifying to see such a prompt response from Trusts around the country to Donna’s report just before Christmas. Not before time the NHS is waking up to the crucial role that maternity services play in the life of the nation.’

Consultant in O and G NHS , March 2021


‘Dear Donna,

 I am writing on behalf of members, past and present, of the Bereavement Support Team at Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust to express our deepest admiration for your well-received “Ockenden Report”.  

To have taken on that piece of work must have been very challenging indeed; we noted your ready admission of the pain you experienced personally in that necessary task of listening to the women and their families who had suffered so greatly.

We all recall with great thanks your years at Portsmouth: the encouragement you gave … in exploring the possibilities of establishing a thorough and ambitious training programme. Your enthusiastic backing, plus the very necessary funding, made so much possible – including making available …[external]  expertise. The Training Courses eventually grew to include nurses from Gynae, NICU and Ancillary staff working in all areas. There was even a slot in the Divisional Induction Programme for Junior Doctors, which was well-received. We wish you every success in taking your work forward – knowing that you are absolutely the right person for such an important work not only in Shrewsbury but throughout England. You have our hearts with you!’

NHS Chaplain


‘Hi Donna, I just wanted to say a huge thank you for the excellent report. Heartbreaking though it is, I think we will finally see real action taken as a result of the work you and your team are doing. And that gives me hope for the future – a good place to end this challenging year. Warmest wishes’

Midwife Colleague NHS


‘Dear Donna, 
With the news of the Interim Maternity Report at SaTH last week I wanted to drop you a line. I know it has been an enormous job and one which I understand became larger and larger over time. But I am also aware of what an incredibly emotional task it must have been for you, listening to families concerns, and moreover concerns which they felt had not been listened to previously.  I wanted you know that I have often thought of you.

Former Midwife colleague, London December 2020


‘Stellar input to the select committee Donna – your commitment to the families shines though so clearly’

CEO, Charity December 2020


‘Dear Donna,
You have done well with Shrewsbury and Telford Maternity investigation. …..So many families have suffered. Congratulations on doing so much to expose this all.’

Retired Consultant colleague, London January 2021


‘Donna, I’m sure you’ve heard this from very many people – but I just wanted to thank you for the report from you and your team. It’s honest and real. It also, for the very first time, puts the voices of women and families centre stage. They’ve been disregarded for so long, and those individual stories are extraordinarily powerful…. at least on maternity, that culture of denial has been broken, and you’ve done that. Congratulations.

Local resident, Shropshire


‘Hi Donna,

 I just wanted to drop you a personal note to congratulate you on the work you and the team have done on publication of the emerging findings.  

 There was, as you know a great deal of media coverage yesterday.  I watched the Channel 4 news coverage, which was extensive, with my family and we were all moved by the piece.  

 The coverage yesterday brought home to me what a difficult and important job you are doing.’

Colleague, legal services December 2020


‘Dear Donna,

I just wanted to personally write to you and say thank you for all of your dedication and hard work in undertaking the Ockenden review. You are a role model for our profession and I sincerely hope there will be lasting changes following your review.

I can only imagine how sad and difficult it has been to hear from the bereaved families time and time again. So I wanted to let you know that some of us really are trying and are committed to high quality care and patient safety.

Thank you again and all the best with the rest of the review.’

Consultant Midwife, London January 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


‘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

I have today read your Report online and wanted to say to you personally that I hope it will eventually prove to be a milestone in the way Maternity Services are managed in the UK.

Please pass on my congratulations to the team; they should be proud that what they are doing will make a real difference.’  – Former colleague

‘Just to say I have been thinking of you during this…enquiry. You have done an amazing job and will truly bring much needed action to improve maternity care to help women at long last, Take care.’

Midwife G, NHS January 2021


‘Hello Donna

I just wanted to say well done.  Your report is so clear and well considered. 

I think and hope it will make a significant difference and improve standards for future pregnancies and births and in time restore trust in the hospitals in our community.

With much respect for your achievement in leading your team in an investigation that will almost certainly save lives.’

Colleague, legal services December 2020


‘Dear Donna,

I watched you on zoom this morning, outlining your very clear and robust interim report for SaTH. I felt very emotional because of the loss of my 3 babies (in terrible circumstances), and also frustrated that decades later so much has to be improved.

Thank you for everything you do Donna – you have given hope to many. Particularly those poor parents and families.’

CEO, Charity


Family Testimonials

Hello Donna,

I just wanted to say a big thank you for all the work that you have put into the Maternity Review in Telford and Shrewsbury.  Due to the positive outcome of our pregnancy I never expected to be added to the review but felt that I should pass on what we had experienced. I felt and still feel that our experiences were significantly less devastating than all the other stories I have read, yet when you met us, and then me on my own, I felt like our story was important to you and felt nothing but empathy from you.

I do not know how you had the fortitude to complete your task, and cannot imagine how much time you’ve dedicated to it.  I find it almost impossible to read the stories of the families who were part of this review and feel nothing but gratitude that there are people in this world like yourself, who can listen to and empathise with every story, in order to ensure that they end up being heard by the wider public and the relevant authorities.  I will forever be indebted to you and the brave families who came forward, as your work impacted on me and led to me ensuring our care was transferred to Birmingham, and I don’t think that I’d have my incredible twins had your investigation not been in progress at the time.

The twins are simply amazing and bring a smile to my face every day.  We are still waiting for the meeting with the hospital which was offered to us 11 months ago now.  I am constantly pushing and will be a thorn in their side until they sit down with us.

I have seen a lot written about families in Nottingham wanting you to head their investigation.  While I understand their feelings I feel that this, and the media coverage afforded to it, is unfair on you.  You have done so much to help so many people in the last 5 years, and put yourself through far more than any person should have to go through.  To me you are simply an amazing and wonderful person for doing what you have done.  I hope that you are able to take some time for yourself and recover from this ordeal, and hope that you can ignore the requests for you to do more.  I also feel that the actions that come from the report are very much out of your hands and we have to hope that they are fully implemented, but I want you to know that even if things don’t go the way you and others hope, then there are at least two little toddlers who owe their lives to the work you put in.

January 2024


To Donna and your fantastic team, thank you so much for all your hard work, I will be forever grateful.

Mrs S, August 2022


I wanted to write again to express my thanks to you all for your work on the maternity review. 

It has helped our family to look back, reflect and think again about our experiences when our twins were born in Shrewsbury.

Interacting with the review has led to long held guilt shifting off my shoulders.

My thanks to you and to the families whose campaigning and participation made this review possible. 

Best wishes,

Mrs P, July 2022


Dear Donna Ockenden and Team

I would like to express my thanks, my mother’s and my siblings, for the exceptional work you have all done over the last few years.

You have shown such dedication and compassion throughout what must have been, at times, a harrowing experience listening to bereaved parents and families.

 I hope you receive support as compassionate as has been shown to us.

Once again a huge thanks to you all

Mrs D, July 2022


Dear Donna,

I follow you on twitter and I just wanted to thank you for your time, care and effort in the Ockenden review and report.
Your report was used as references and safety highlights in our HSIB report into the death of our son XXXXX and my wife’s care

Thank you again for all your work giving these families a voice and to be able to feel seen and heard. knowing people like yourself are doing fabulous work into safer maternity is a huge help and support.

With all good wishes and thanks,

Mrs C, May 2022


Donna, how can we ever thank you enough. You have created such an opportunity for positive change. Thank you.

Mr and Mrs S-D, March 2022


To Donna, 

We cannot express our thanks and gratitude in words, but your reports will change the maternity service forever.

Mr and Mrs G, March 2022


Thank you so much for everything! 

Your compassion and kindness throughout the review has made it a lot easier to be patient ourselves. 

We admire your strength whilst doing the review, a job we wouldn’t wish on anyone. It can’t have been easy at times. 

Thank you again. 

Mr and Mrs R, March 2022


Listening to you give the report, I was very impressed with your review. I understood everything you said and would like to thank you. I felt your compassion and kindness for the families. 

Mrs J, March 2022


Dear Donna – thank you for the work you have undertaken on behalf of the families who have suffered so dreadfully. I hope the brave report you have produced will bring about changes and that you personally will gain comfort from this. I am thinking of you.

Ms S, March 2022


I did watch your online meeting this morning, thank you very much to yourself and your team for all your hard work, I can’t imagine it was easy. 

Thank you, 

Mrs H, March 2022


Thank you for all you have done and for all your hard work up here in Shropshire. 

Mrs C, March 2022


I would like to thank every member of the team involved in this report. You have my gratitude, thanks and respect. 

Mrs K, March 2002


I want you ALL to know that I am truly grateful for listening to my personal story from 1987 when the truth was hidden from me.  

You have been part of such an important, vital investigation I hope you all understand how much this is appreciated.

The report was powerful, straight to the point, blunt, direct and held nothing back.

THANK YOU. 

You have my continued support for difficult job.

Much love to every one of the team.

Mrs S, March 2022


Dear Donna, Thank you for your report. You have shown such commitment, integrity and empathy for all of us during this time. You are truly on our side!

Mrs J, March 2022


Hello Donna and team. 

Firstly I can’t thank you enough for all the tireless work you have put into investigating the baby deaths at Shrewsbury hospital and the shocking information you have uncovered. I think I speak for all the mothers and fathers affected, there was sadness yesterday, but also some closure that those responsible are being held accountable and our children can finally rest in peace. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart. 

Mrs S, March 2022


I thought was handled with as always care and compassion – so thank you to everyone involved.

Mrs D-L, March 2022


My thanks to Donna and the whole team for the tremendous work you do.

Mrs M, March 2022


Thank you with all my heart from me and my little boys for doing such an outstanding job and recommendations for New Cross hospital, I am eternally grateful to you 💖 

Ms C, March 2022 


Dear Donna and team

I am writing to express my profound and heartfelt thanks for the devoted work and attention you have given to uncovering the dire failings at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust. 

I wish you all the best and thank you again for all you have done to date. 

Ms W, March 2022


Hello Donna and Team

Thank you for everything you have all done on our behalf.  

It is brilliant that the report has been published, that it covers so many important issues, that there has been so much publicity about the dreadful happenings and people are now more aware of what happened in Shrewsbury and Telford, and that now more of the Actions can be put in place. 

With best wishes 

Mrs B, March 2022


I would like to say thank you to both you and your team for such a thorough investigation and review.

 – Mrs U


I have just listened to your zoom webinar, thank you for providing me with opportunity to listen to the preliminary findings ahead of publication of your report. Thank you also so much for the tremendous work that you and your team have been doing. 

Again, thank you sincerely for all that you are doing.

 – Mrs R 


I just wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the hard work that you and your team have put into the investigation/ review so far and for such a sincere first report today. 

Donna you are an amazing speaker and are so compassionate and sincere. We are so grateful for all the measures that are due to be implemented in the future to support other families. THANK YOU

– Mrs S


I have just listened into the webinar this morning and firstly wanted to say how grateful we are for the efforts your team are making on our behalf, working so hard to bring about change at the maternity services in Shrewsbury and Telford. I appreciate too that the number of cases being considered makes a personal response to each question raised very difficult. 

Many thanks again for all you are doing.

 – Mrs W


I just wanted to say a thank you for all the work you have done so far and all that you have yet to do to give us a voice. I have to admit that after the zoom call and reading the report last week, it brought back so many feelings and emotions.

 – Mrs C


It finally feels like we are getting somewhere. Bless you

– Mrs S 


Thank you so much Donna for dealing with all of this so well.

Please God let these stories shape a better service to all mums to be in the future.

Being part of the review has felt so powerful and helps in part to heal such awful memories.

– Mrs F


Firstly may I say..That you absolutely Rock !! 

The hard work you and your team are doing is making a huge huge difference.

 I never had before now this feeling of calm and reassurance that the Trust were listening and taking note..but now I feel everyone is taking note and listening to you and your findings.  Thank you.

 – Mrs P


Dear Donna,

Thank you very much for keeping us all informed, and for all the sterling work you and your team have done, and are still doing.

Thank you again for all you have done.  If they take it all on board, it should save a great many parents a great deal of grief and sorrow.  Let us hope they do.

With very best wishes to you. 

– Mrs B 


Thank you so much for the great deal of care you have taken over the report and for treating us families with care and respect. I really appreciated you letting us know details of the report before it was published.

 – Miss P 


Hello Donna Ockenden and team

May I thank you for your help and support to so many traumatised people who have now had their moment to express profound loss and agony.

I found it so upsetting myself after all the years of blaming myself. Thank you all from the depths of my soul.  

With kindest regards. 

– Mrs D


Dear Donna

I hope all is well with you. 

Congratulations on the Report that you launched today. 

Your report will give a voice to each baby and their parents. 

I look forward to hearing from you soon. 

Kind regards and thanks.

 – Mrs M 


Hi,

I just want to say how amazed I am at how Donna and your team are fighting for all the cases from the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust.  The local actions for learning and plan of actions for improvement sound fantastic.

I thank Kate and Pippa and others who never gave up fighting for justice.

With kindest regards.

 – Mrs M 


Thank you for all your doing ,if this prevents other mothers going through what I saw my daughter going through ….then it will all be worth it .Thank you from the bottom of my heart.  Happy Christmas to you and yours.

 – Mrs S


Well done Donna great work!! Keep up the effort, focus and dedication you are doing a fabulous job. Very grateful to you. 

Best wishes.

 – Mrs S


Hello Donna I hope you are well,

I’ve watched this past week and I’d like to say from the bottom of our hearts thank you for all your teams work on our behalf.

Thank you again for everything you have done for my baby boy.

Yours faithfully.

 – Mrs B 


Dear Donna, 

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for everything you have done for us, for Kate, and for all the families.

 – Family SD


To Donna & all the team, 

Thank you for listening and giving Pippa a voice. Your work will make a huge difference to Maternity Services across the country. 

– Mr and Mrs G 


Hi Donna, 

I’ve been thinking of you and horrendous and stressful work you have undertaken. Women and their families in the future will benefit from your outstanding work. 

I am so proud of you Donna. Thank you for being so thorough, courageous and professional

– Midwifery colleague J


‘Thank you so much for talking to us yesterday. It was so lovely to meet with you. We both said after the meeting what a kind and compassionate woman you are. So thank you so very much.’

Ms L, October 2021


‘Thank you so so much for your help, this means more than I can put into words,

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you all again for all the work you have done, for me and my baby boy! Having a voice at long last is astonishing and me and my family are eternally grateful

Ms B, June 2021


“Huge congratulations on all your and your teams work over the past many months.

Mrs B March 2021


“I’m so sorry not to have written before now, to thank you and your Team for all that you have been doing for everyone affected by the issues with the Shrewsbury and Telford Maternity Services. Reading the Report, watching your Zoom sessions where you helped to keep us all informed with what was happening, watching the Select Committee, you responding to our questions etc. – it has all been amazing.  Thank you, thank you, and thank you.  The amount of work and emotional energy that has gone into all of this by you and your Team so far is simply incredible. Your findings were horrifying.  But the recommendations from your findings are mind-blowing, and I am sure will have shaken the Trust to the core, to read all in one document about what has happened and to see what they need to do.  Hopefully stopping things like this happening to anyone else, let alone so many people.

Ms B February 2021


“You provided a report in this case in 2017. I wanted to let you know that the case settled via mediation this month. 

I thought you would be interested to know that the claimant has agreed to work with NHS Resolution to raise awareness with the clinicians at the trust in relation to what happened in this case, in particular the failings in this case to involve the parents in the SUI, and how they were treated afterwards which compounded their distress. 

Many thanks for your assistance in this case and in helping us reach a settlement. “

Victoria Beel 
Senior Associate 
Slater and Gordon 


“Thank you for all your doing, if this prevents other mothers going through what I saw my daughter going through ….then it will all be worth it .Thank you from the bottom of my heart.  Happy Christmas to you and yours.”

Mrs S


“Hi,

I just want to say how amazed I am at how Donna and your team are fighting for all the cases from the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust.  The local actions for learning and plan of actions for improvement sound fantastic.

I thank Kate and Pippa and others who never gave up fighting for justice.

With kindest regards.”

Mrs M 


“I would like to thank you all for the work you have done so far in the review and for the care and compassion shown.”

Ms W 


“Dear Donna
I hope all is well with you. 
Congratulations on the Report that you launched today. 
Your report will give a voice to each baby and their parents. 
I look forward to hearing from you soon. 
Kind regards and thanks.”

Mrs M 


“Hello Donna Ockenden and team

May I thank you for your help and support to so many traumatised people who have now had their moment to express profound loss and agony.

I found it so upsetting myself after all the years of blaming myself. Thank you all from the depths of my soul. 

With kindest regards.”

Mrs D


“Good evening

We watched Donna today and the statement in the House of Commons and found it helpful to a point. Like many other families we want to be assured that the lessons are being learnt by the Trust and the changes will be embedded especially around the culture within the Service.”

Mrs T


“Hello

Thank you so much for the great deal of care you have taken over the report and for treating us families with care and respect. I really appreciated you letting us know details of the report before it was published.”

Miss P 


“Dear Donna,

Much appreciated.

My best wishes and many thanks for all you do.”

Mr L, Father of A


“Dear Donna,

Thank you very much for keeping us all informed, and for all the sterling work you and your team have done, and are still doing.

Thank you again for all you have done.  If they take it all on board, it should save a great many parents a great deal of grief and sorrow.  Let us hope they do.

With very best wishes to you.”

Mrs B 


“Good morning Donna

Firstly may I say..That you absolutely Rock !! 

The hard work you and your team are doing is making a huge huge difference.

 I never had before now this feeling of calm and reassurance that the Trust were listening and taking note..but now I feel everyone is taking note and listening to you and your findings.  Thank you.”

Mrs P


“Thank you so much Donna for dealing with all of this so well.

Please god let these stories shape a better service to all mums to be in the future.

Being part of the review has felt so powerful and helps in part  to heal such awful memories. 

Kind Regards”

Mrs F


‘Thank you for doing all this and keeping us updated, it’s much appreciated.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and stay safe.

Kind regards”

Mrs M


“Dear Donna

Firstly, thank you. We watched on Friday, I’ve managed to read your report from start to finish without breaking down (Which I couldn’t have done 2 years ago).  We also watched the parliament TV you did yesterday.

It finally feels like we are getting somewhere. Bless you”

Mrs S 


“Good Morning,

I just wanted to say a thank you for all the work you have done so far and all that you have yet to do to give us a voice. I have to admit that after the zoom call and reading the report last week, it bought back so many feelings and emotions.”

Mrs C


“Good morning, 

I have just listened into the webinar this morning and firstly wanted to say how grateful we are for the efforts your team are making on our behalf, working so hard to bring about change at the maternity services in Shrewsbury and Telford. I appreciate too that the number of cases being considered makes a personal response to each question raised very difficult. 

Many thanks again for all you are doing.”

Mrs W


“I have just listened to your zoom webinar, thank you for providing me with opportunity to listen to the preliminary findings ahead of publication of your report. Thank you also so much for the tremendous work that you and your team have been doing. 

Again, thank you sincerely for all that you are doing.”

Mrs R 


“Hi Donna and the team, 

I just wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the hard work that you and your team have put into the investigation/ review so far and for such a sincere first report today. 

Donna you are an amazing speaker and are so compassionate and sincere. We are so grateful for all the measures that are due to be implemented in the future to support other families. THANK YOU”

Mrs S


“Dear Ms Ockenden,

I would like to say thank you to both you and your team for such a thorough investigation and review.”

Mrs U


“Dear Donna, 

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for everything you have done for us, for Kate and for all the families”

Mr and Mrs SD


“To Donna & all the team, 

Thank you for listening and giving Pippa a voice. Your work will make a huge difference to Maternity Safety across the country”

Mr & Mrs G 


Louise Barnett, Chief Executive at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, said: “I would like to thank Donna Ockenden for this report but more importantly the families for coming forward.  

“As the Chief Executive now and on behalf of the whole Trust, I want to say how very sorry we are for the pain and distress that has been caused to mothers and their families due to poor maternity care at our Trust. 

“We commit to implementing all of the actions in this report and I can assure the women and families who use our service that if they raise any concerns about their care they will be listened to and action will be taken.”

“If you are pregnant and have any questions about your current care, please contact your midwife.”


Minister for Patient Safety and Maternity Nadine Dorries MP said: “My heartfelt sympathies are with every family who has been affected by the shocking failings in Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust’s maternity services.

“I would like to thank Donna Ockenden and her team for their hard work in producing this first report and making these vital recommendations so lessons can be learnt as soon as possible.  

“I expect the Trust to act upon the recommendations immediately, and for the wider maternity service right across the country to consider important actions they can take to improve safety for mothers, babies and families.

“This Government is utterly committed to patient safety, eradicating avoidable harms and making the NHS the safest place in the world to give birth. We will work closely with NHS England and Improvement, as well as Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust to consider next steps.”


“You have been an inspiration to work with and what I have learnt most from you is to always put the patients and family first….. with people like you the quality of care will improve and I will watch with great hope and anticipation. Good luck..”

Dr F,
Former NHS colleague  
September 2020


“Dear Donna 

It was lovely to finally meet you! Heartfelt thanks from us both for today. Your empathy and understanding really helped us. 

Best wishes”

Mr and Mrs A,
September 2020


“We appreciate all you are doing here for us as your work load is no doubt immense.

It was lovely to meet you on Monday

Thanks again for all you are doing”

Mr E,
September 2020


“Thank you for listening and understanding. It is very much appreciated- artwork courtesy of my 4 year old.”

Ms W,
May 2020


“It’s people like you Donna – that make the world a better place”

J S, 
February 2020


“Dear Donna, I hope that you have enjoyed your visit to Newham the day before and thank you for taking time to talk to me. The colleagues and I were very impressed by your words of encouragement and inspiration.”

Midwife N,
January 2020


“As always, thank you so much for all your help, patience, support and kind words.”

Mrs W


“It’s such a difficult thing to go through, even all this time on for me. I’m so thankful to you all for everything that you are doing.”

Mrs B


“I thank you again for taking the time out to help me and my family, to bring the full scale of events to account and it means a great deal that you are there for us.”

Mrs S


“The work you do is so encouraging and inspirational, I hope you get all the support you need to keep up this important work.”

S K, 
January 2020


“As always, thank you so much for all your help, patience, support and kind words.”

Mrs W


“I thank you again for taking the time out to help me and my family, to bring the full scale of events to account and it means a great deal that you are there for us.”

Mrs S


“Keep up the excellent work.”

Mrs M