Testimonials

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

“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

“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

“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.”

“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