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Essex NHS maternity staff secure compensation after nitrous oxide exposure
Overview
More than 120 midwives and maternity workers at Basildon University Hospital in Essex are set to share £735,000 in compensation after being exposed to dangerously high levels of nitrous oxide due to poor ventilation between 2021 and 2023. Staff reported symptoms including chronic fatigue, brain fog, and low B12 levels, and criticized management for failing to disclose test results revealing safety breaches for 16 months. The Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust apologized, acknowledging it should have acted faster.
Key points
- More than 120 NHS midwives and maternity workers will share £735,000 in compensation.
- Staff at Basildon University Hospital were exposed to nitrous oxide levels up to 30 times higher than the legal workplace exposure limit between 2021 and 2023.
- Affected staff were not informed about test results breaching safety thresholds for 16 months.
- Workers reported symptoms including regular headaches, brain fog, dizziness, chronic fatigue, and depleted B12 levels.
- The Royal College of Midwives noted this is the largest group legal action brought by midwives in the UK.
- The Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust apologized and admitted it should have acted faster to address the issues.