Mothers denied gas and air during labour

Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow have temporarily suspended the use of gas and air due to fears that midwives and doctors have been exposed to unsafe levels.

Gas and air, also known as Etonox or nitrous oxide, has been found that with prolonged exposure it can affect vitamin B12 levels which may lead to potential nerve damage and anaemia. It is harmless to women and babies in smaller doses.

Other hospitals that have temporarily suspended its use over the last few months include:

• Ipswich Hospital
• Peterborough City Hospital and Hinchingbrooke Hospitals
• The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (Kings Lynn)
• Basildon University Hospital in Essex, where tests found gas levels at 3,000 parts per million (compared to the safe limit of 100ppm)
• The William Harvey Hospital in Ashford (Kent)
• Watford General Hospital, recorded levels of almost 5,000ppmbut did not suspend gas and air and instead installed machines to remove gas from delivery rooms

The Royal College of Midwives believes the issue has arisen because of poor ventilation in delivery suites and labour wards. NHS England has commented  that hospitals should only suspend gas and air as “a last resort”.

An NHS maternity survey for 2022 shows 76% of women used gas and air during their labour. This temporary suspension is leaving a large number of mothers giving birth with no pain relief if their labour progresses quickly without time for other forms of pain relief, such as epidurals. This is leading to potentially avoidable traumatic experiences during labour and birth.

Further reading

Hospital negligence – Oakwood Solicitors

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