Episode
From Trauma Survivor to the NHS’s Toughest Investigator : Donna Ockenden
- Published
- Apr 9, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 3203
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Summary
"I promised Gina that I’d try every single day to make maternity care safer." We are joined by Donna Ockenden, the midwife and investigator behind some of the most significant maternity reviews in NHS history. Donna opens up about a childhood marked by poverty, instability, and a harrowing period of abuse at the hands of her grandfather. She shares how these formative experiences of responsibility and survival eventually led her to a 40-year career in nursing and midwifery—a journey fueled by a quiet but fierce determination to protect the vulnerable. Donna also recounts the heartbreaking story of baby Gina, a moment that changed her life forever and became the foundation for her "Gina Promise": a lifelong commitment to ensuring no family has to suffer avoidable harm. In this video: A Childhood of Resilience: Growing up in poverty in South Wales and surviving trauma. The "Moonlight Flit": Being uprooted to Ireland and having her identity changed as a teenager. The Gina Promise: The tragic loss that defined Donna’s mission to make maternity care safer. Reshaping the NHS: Insights into the Shrewsbury, Telford, and Nottingham maternity reviews. A Message to Mothers: Why "speaking out and speaking up" is vital for safer births today. Donna’s story is a powerful testament to how personal pain can be transformed into a professional crusade for justice and safety. What did you take away from Donna’s journey? Let’s continue the conversation in the comments below. 🔔 Subscribe to Victoria Derbyshire's Unbelievable Britain for more extraordinary stories told by the people who lived them. #VictoriaDerbyshire #DonnaOckenden #MaternityCare #NHS #Resilience #HumanStories #UnbelievableBritain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices