Hinchingbrooke Hospital has reintroduced gas and air in half of its birthing rooms – but there’s still none at Peterborough City Hospital.  

It has been a month since the North West Anglia Foundation Trust suspended the use of gas and air for woman in labour across its maternity units.  

The Trust said ventilation issues at both hospitals in Huntingdon and Peterborough meant the use of Entonox was a risk to staff.  

An update on its Facebook page for maternity services said five of the 10 birthing rooms at Hinchingbrooke now have gas and air as ventilation units have been installed.  

The post, from March 27, went on to explain teams are working on a solution for the delivery suite at Peterborough.  

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It said: “We are pleased to share with you that we have safely reintroduced gas and air to five of our rooms on the Delivery Suite at Hinchingbrooke Hospital following the installation of ventilation units.  

“Our maternity teams are continuing to work with our Health, Safety and Estates Teams to safely reintroduce gas and air at Peterborough City Hospital.  

“We apologise to our women/birthing people who plan on delivering at Peterborough, for not currently being able to offer them the same resolution to this issue.  

“Please be assured that the experience of our birthing women/people, and the safety of our staff remains our priority.” 

Expectant mothers are being offered to make changes to their birth plans, switching to a homebirth or to switch to another maternity unit.  

Some have already transferred their care to The Rosie Hospital, in Cambridge.  

Other pain relief options listed on the Trust’s website include the painkiller Pethidine and an epidural.