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News
More than 120 midwives and maternity staff at Basildon University Hospital have been awarded nearly £750,000 in compensation after being exposed to dangerously high levels of nitrous oxide between 2021 and 2023. Poor ventilation and leaking gas lines were to blame, with staff reporting symptoms including fatigue, headaches, brain fog, and anxiety. The trust was criticised for taking over a year to inform staff and introduce safety measures after the problem was first identified.
More than 120 midwives and maternity staff at Basildon University Hospital have secured a nearly £750,000 settlement after being exposed to dangerously high levels of nitrous oxide — the main component of gas and air used for labour pain relief — between 2021 and 2023. Poor ventilation and leaking gas lines on the maternity unit were identified as the cause, with affected staff reporting fatigue, headaches, brain fog, and anxiety.
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) and Thompsons Solicitors brought legal action on behalf of the workers. An independent review found the NHS trust knew about the problem in July 2021 but didn't inform staff until 2022 and didn't implement safety measures until 2023 — a delay widely condemned as unacceptable.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: The RCM warns this isn't an isolated incident — many NHS maternity units across the UK still struggle with failing ventilation and outdated facilities. This landmark settlement puts NHS employers on notice that occupational safety for maternity staff must be treated as a serious priority.
