06/12/2022 | Press releases

Temporary suspension of nitrous oxide at Ipswich Hospital

Clinical leaders at Ipswich Hospital’s maternity services have taken the decision to temporarily suspend the use of nitrous oxide (also known as Entonox or gas and air) until new ventilation units can be fitted in the delivery suite and birthing rooms.

Dr Giles Thorpe, Chief Nurse at East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We have tested the levels of nitrous oxide in our maternity services following concerns about high levels of nitrous oxide in the maternity department at Basildon Hospital.

“Nitrous oxide is piped at our Colchester maternity unit with extraction (scavenger) units in place.  However, it is not piped at Ipswich maternity unit and so we asked a specialist testing company to check all of our birthing rooms there.

“The results have shown that there are some areas at Ipswich maternity unit where the levels of residual nitrous oxide are higher than we would want them to be and are above the ‘safe’ levels identified in national guidance. We need to improve ventilation in all our birthing rooms and on the delivery suite at Ipswich Hospital and have placed an immediate order for 13 mobile units (known as scavengers) to remove any excess nitrous oxide in the air. It is likely to be five to seven days before these mobile units arrive.

“Therefore, we have taken the decision to protect all of our staff by stopping the use of nitrous oxide at Ipswich maternity unit until the mobile units are in place. This decision comes into effect immediately.

“We will of course make sure that pregnant people will be offered alternative support. There is no concern that using nitrous oxide is harmful to pregnant people, the issue is the residual levels left in the air after it has been used. Better ventilation will mean that we can make sure that the levels of nitrous oxide in the environment are within safe levels at all times.”

Anyone who would prefer to move hospitals so they still have the option of gas and air during labour can discuss with their community midwife or the antenatal clinic.

Moving hospitals is best done through an official referral so midwives and teams caring for you and your baby have access to your complete medical notes alongside your handheld maternity notes.

For yours and your baby’s safety, please do not attend a different hospital without being officially referred. Your complete notes will not be available and you may be asked to attend your registered hospital to be cared for there.

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