‘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
“Huge congratulations on all your and your teams work over the past many months.“
Mrs B March 2021
‘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
“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
‘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
‘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
‘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
‘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,
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
‘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
‘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
“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
“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
“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