Hospitals suspend gas and air pain relief used by mothers in labour amid fears of unsafe levels

Hospitals are suspending the use of pain-relieving gas and air for mothers-to-be over fears for midwives safety. 

NHS Trusts have sought to temporarily halt the use of laughing gas following concerns that medical staff are being exposed to harmful levels in the workplace.

Nitrous oxide and oxygen residuals have been measured as 50 times over safety caps in some NHS units, according to The Sunday Times. 

But suspensions have also been labelled ‘madness’ with the popular option of pain relief taken out of reach for some.

Pregnant Amy Fantis is due to have her baby at the Princess Alexandra hospital in Essex which suspended use of the Entonox gas last month. 

 Amy Fantis is due to have her baby at the Princess Alexandra hospital in Essex  (pictured) which suspended use of the gas last month

Essex’s Basildon University Hospital was reportedly among the hospitals that temporarily suspended use of the gas but have since reinstated it

While the hospital has ordered machines which can break up the gas into unharmful components, it currently only has three of these at hand.

As a result, the hospital stressed that it ‘may not be able to offer gas and air to everyone who would like to use it’ and will prioritise use on a ‘case-by-case basis’.

Amy told the publication this was a ‘stress that you don’t need’, having been dependent on the pain relief while giving birth four years ago.

She said: ‘It’s not available to everyone and I might not get it. My birth might only be 40 minutes. It is a stress that you don’t need. I understand they have to keep midwives safe but to just take it away seems madness. It is the poor mums who are paying the price.’ 

Joanna Keable, head of midwifery at The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust also added that mothers should be ‘reassured that there is no risk’, with safety concerns only arising with prolonged exposure.

She said: ‘Please be reassured that there is no risk to mothers, birthing people, their partners and babies. The use of Entonox was temporarily suspended to protect our midwifery and medical teams from prolonged exposure to nitrous oxide in the atmosphere arising from the patient use of gas and air.

‘Thank you to all of the women and families who use our services and to our maternity and medical team for your understanding and support.’

High levels of nitrous oxide have also previously been detected at a number of trusts including Queen Elizabeth Hospital, in King’s Lynn, and Watford General Hospital, it was said. 

Ipswich Hospital installed new ventilation units following concerns around gas and air

Watford General Hospital had levels 50 times above nitrous oxide safety caps last year

Before Watford General Hospital had installed air purifiers, it experienced levels 50 times above nitrous oxide safety caps last year. 

Essex’s Basildon University Hospital was reportedly among the hospitals that temporarily suspended use of the gas but have since reinstated it following an investigation and additional ventilation measures.

The Health and Safety Executive recorded a total of 11 nitrous oxide incidents in NHS trusts between August 2018 and December 2022, a BBC report suggests. 

Ipswich Hospital also temporarily suspended the pain relief last year but are now using it again following the installation of new ventilation units. 

The executive director of the Royal College of Midwives told The Times that ‘poor ventilation in delivery suites’ was ‘just the tip of the iceberg’ in maternity units unfit for purpose. 

An NHS England spokesman told MailOnline: ‘NHS England has been working with the Trusts where gas and air supplies have been affected due to differing and localised issues – this is not a widespread issue and patients should continue to access services as normal.’

MailOnline has approached the hospitals for comment.