Donna Ockenden FRSA, is a British midwife and community activist. She was commissioned in 2016 by the then UK Secretary for Health and Social Care, Jeremy Hunt, to chair an independent review into maternity services at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust. Initial findings of the Ockenden Review were reported in December 2020, with a final report published on 17 March 2022.[1] In May 2022, it was announced by NHS England that Ockenden would chair an independent review of maternity services at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH). This review commenced at the beginning of September 2022[2] and is expected to continue until late 2025.
In February 2021, Ockenden was named as a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufacture and Commerce.[3] The fellowship is awarded by the Royal Society of Arts (RSA), and is limited to individuals determined to have made outstanding achievements to social progress and development.[4]
In July 2023, she was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of West London for her achievements and expertise in UK maternity services.[5] In September 2024, Donna was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science from the University of Chichester.[6]
Ockenden is an honorary president of Baby Lifeline, the mother and baby charity founded 40 years ago by Judy Ledger following the personal tragedy of losing three premature babies.[7] Donna is also a patron of MASIC, a charity that supports birth injured mothers and seeks to raise of the life changing effects of Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injuries (OASI's);[8] and an ambassador for baby loss charity Sands.[9]
- ^ Matthew Weaver, Maternity scandal report calls for urgent changes in England's hospitals, The Guardian, 10 December 2020. Accessed 12 December 2020.
- ^ "NHS England » NHS announces Donna Ockenden as chair of Nottingham University Hospitals maternity". www.england.nhs.uk. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
- ^ "Leadership Roles | Donna Ockenden". www.donnaockenden.com. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
- ^ "RSA Fellowship". The RSA. 23 October 2024. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
- ^ Ockenden, Donna (10 January 2024). "Donna-Ockendon-UWL" (PDF). Donna Ockenden. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
- ^ "Honorary Graduates 2024: Donna Ockenden". University of Chichester. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
- ^ "Shrewsbury maternity inquiry chair joins Baby Lifeline charity". The Independent. 13 April 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
- ^ "Announcing Donna Ockenden as our new Patron!". MASIC. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
- ^ "Sands welcomes Donna Ockenden as new Ambassador | Sands - Saving babies' lives. Supporting bereaved families". www.sands.org.uk. 9 October 2022. Retrieved 28 October 2024.