More than 100 maternity staff sue NHS over gas exposure

More than 100 maternity staff sue NHS over gas exposure2 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleRobbie KalusandMatt PreceyPA MediaThe staff, including midwives, claim they were exposed to hazardous levels of nitrous oxideMore than 100 maternity staff are taking legal action against a hospital trust after being exposed to what they say were "hazardous" levels of nitrous oxide.The staff, who include midwives and healthcare assistants, all worked at Basildon Hospital in Essex between 2018 and 2023.Symptoms including fatigue, anxiety, headaches and "brain fog" were reported.The trust that runs the hospital has said it "should have acted faster to address the issues".The Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust has already paid out £89,000 in settlements over claims staff were exposed to "excessive and foreseeably dangerous" levels of Entonox, which is often called gas and air.A total of 141 claims have been received, according to the NHS.Entonox is a mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen that is used as pain relief for women giving birth. Levels can build up quickly in the air without adequate ventilation.The gas was released on maternity units when cannisters were connected, birthing mothers exhaled, and when the equipment was faulty, according to papers filed at the High Court.Maternity staff were exposed to gas levels up to 30 times higher than the legal workplace exposure limit, an internal hospital report found.'Widespread anger'One female staff member taking part in the legal action, who did not wish to be named, told the BBC she and her colleagues had been "poisoned".The way they were treated was a "massive kick in the teeth" and it had caused widespread anger, she said."A lot of people were suffering from chronic fatigue, constant headaches, low vitamin B12, which was subsequently causing things like heart palpitations and very foggy heads," she said.They were seeking "justic...