Maternity gas and air suspended over health risk to midwives

EXPECTANT mothers will find it harder to get pain-relief gas as hospitals suspend its use out of concerns for the safety of midwives.

A hospital in Essex is the latest to ban pregnant women inhaling nitrous oxide out of fear o9f staff being exposed to high levels for prolonged periods.

The tasteless and odourless gas has been used as a labour analgesic for more than a century and is one of the most popular pain relief options chosen by women when giving birth.

While safe in small quantities, longterm exposure to unsafe levels can be dangerous, leading to infertility, vitamin B12 deficiency and nerve damage.

Last month, the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, Essex, suspended the use of the gas, depriving expectant mothers of vital pain relief.

Amy Fantis, who is pregnant with her second child, told The Sunday Times that withdrawing the gas was causing her stress and labelled it “madness”.

“It’s not available to everyone and I might not get it ... 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,” she said.

The gas, administered under the brand name Entonox, is mixed with oxygen, and is more commonly known as gas and air. It is breathed through a mask or mouthpiece.

Dr Alex Field, divisional director, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, at the Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS trust, was quoted by The Guardian late last month as saying: “We have temporarily suspended the use of Entonox across the maternity unit.” The hospital follows others, such as Watford General Hospital, in suspending the gas amid the discovery of levels of nitrous oxide 50 times above the safe limit.

The findings emerged in a BBC investigation that found 11 notifications to the Health and Safety Executive, between August 2018 and December 2022.

An NHS England spokesman said: “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.”