On Wednesday 5 July, we took the difficult decision to temporarily suspend the use of Entonox (a gas and air pain relief method) in our maternity services at Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust.
We took this action for the safety of our staff who may have had extended exposure to Entonox due to issues with ventilation in the rooms in the maternity unit at East Surrey Hospital.
We know this was a really concerning change for our patients, but we are pleased to report that we now have the equipment in place to make Entonox available and will be reinstating its use from today. We would like to thank all our patients for their continued patience and understanding, and apologise to anyone who has been affected by this temporary change.
If you are due to give birth in the immediate future please be assured that there are alternative pain relief options to Entonox, which you can read about in our frequently asked questions here or through speaking to your midwife, who will be happy to offer support and discuss your options with you. You can also speak to the maternity matron of the day at East Surrey Hospital by contacting the maternity triage line on 01737 231764. Please note homebirths were unaffected and Entonox has been available throughout.