 Despite her numerous sex scenes , Donna did not have a genuinely romantic storyline until beginning a slow @-@ burning romance with agency nurse Kieran Callaghan in late 2010 . She initially disliked him , suspecting him of shirking his work duties , and at one point requested that he never return to her ward . Jacobs assessed that Donna was attracted to him , but would not allow herself to accept it at first , having had so many failed relationships with men ill @-@ suited to her . They went on to begin a relationship , with Jacobs describing Kieran as " Donna 's dream come true " , and co @-@ star Sloane deeming the two a " great match " . Their relationship was impeded by Kieran 's commitment to the TA and tour of duty in Afghanistan . Sloane felt that Kieran did not sufficiently explain the extent of his involvement with the TA , and assessed that Donna failed to understand his " soldier mentality " , stating that their problems stemmed from a mutual stubbornness . Following Kieran 's deployment , television magazine What 's on TV noted a change in Donna 's demeanour , observing that she had " soured " in contrast to her former " bubbly " friendliness . In a plot designed to " bring home the horrors of war " , Kieran lost a leg in an IED explosion . In the aftermath , he and Donna reunited , before moving away together . 
