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Female truckers; Dealing with disappointment; Caitlin Moran; Maternity failings

Of the half a million UK lorry drivers, less that 5% are female. What would persuade more women to get behind the wheel?

There is currently a huge shortage of road hauliers in the UK. According to the Road Haulage Association, up to 100,000 more lorry drivers are needed to transport the food, medicines and equipment vital to the UK economy. It’s estimated that 95% of all the products we consume are at some point moved around by road freight. And with Brexit, the Suez Canal blockage, and coronavirus restrictions causing big logistical issues, more people are urgently needed…. But of the half a million licensed lorry drivers, only 5% are women. Why is this? And what would encourage more women to get behind the wheel? Emma speaks to driver Suzy Mackenzie and Kate Lester, the Chief Executive of Diamond Logistics.

Disappointment is a fact of life, but that doesn't make it any easier when it comes. At last night's Wimbledon, 18 year old British wildcard Emma Raducanu had to retire from her last-16 match after suffering apparent breathing difficulties. Although we're still not sure exactly what happened, it's not a huge leap of imagination to say that she'll be disappointed to see the end of her dream debut. But what can us mere mortals take from it? Annabel Croft, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ tennis commentator and former British number one, and Julia Samuels, psychotherapist and author of 'This Too Will Pass: Stories of Crisis, Change and Hopeful Beginnings', talk about the nature of disappointment and the strategies we can use to pick ourselves up again.

Caitlin Moran is a journalist and columnist at The Times. Her first book β€˜How to Be a Woman” came out in 2011 and has sold more than a million copies in 28 countries. The sequel β€˜More than a Woman’ came out last year and is out in paperback today. She is currently on a live UK tour and joins Emma to talk about motherhood, daughters, female friendship and coming to terms with getting older.

Maternity services in England are failing mothers and babies leading to hundreds of avoidable deaths each year, according to a damning report by the Health and Social Care committee on maternity safety in England. It also describes a "debilitating culture of blame" preventing lessons being learned from previous tragedies. Jeremy Hunt, the former health secretary and chair of the committee pointed out that 1,000 more babies a year would survive if England's maternity services were as safe as Sweden's. The committee's report found although maternity safety had improved, the deaths of a number of newborn babies at several hospitals in recent years were a reminder that much more needs to be done. Emma is joined by Dame Professor Lesley Regan, Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at St Mary’s, Imperial College and past President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

Available now

58 minutes

Chapters

  • Maternity failings

    • Maternity failings

      Maternity services in England are failing mothers and babies leading to deaths each year

      Duration: 11:28

  • Dealing with disappointment

    • Dealing with disappointment

      Annabel Croft & Julia Samuels on the nature of disappointment and coping strategies

      Duration: 12:12

  • Caitlin Moran

    • Caitlin Moran

      The journalist and columnist talks about the sequel to her best-selling first book

      Duration: 16:52

  • Female truckers

    • Female truckers

      Of the half a million licensed lorry drivers, only 5% are women. Why is this?

      Duration: 11:04

  • Lady Lavinia Nourse

    • Lady Lavinia Nourse

      Lady Lavinia Nourse calls for those accused of child sex abuse to remain anonymous

      Duration: 02:06

Broadcast

  • Tue 6 Jul 2021 10:00

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