MORE than 100 maternity staff are taking legal action against a hospital trust after being exposed to dangerous levels of nitrous oxide.

Those involved, including midwives and healthcare assistants who worked at Basildon Hospital in Essex between 2018 and 2023, say they suffered fatigue, anxiety, headaches and “brain fog” as a result. 

Overall, 141 claims have been received by NHS Resolution, with earlier settled claims totalling just over £89,000.

Two years ago, an independent review found that Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trus had “failed to act with candour” and that there had been an “unacceptable delay” in its response to concerns raised in July 2021 about dangerous gas levels, which were not addressed until October 2022.

According to the Health and Safety Executive, high exposure to nitrous oxide in the workplace can cause neurological problems and anaemia.

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust acting chief nursing officer Denise Townsend said: “We are sorry and acknowledge that we should have acted faster to address the issues. 

“Since the incident, we have learnt lessons and improved our oversight of the monitoring of medical gases across the maternity unit.”

High nitrous oxide levels have also affected other NHS trusts.