Message updated 01 June 2023
Update on the suspension of gas and air at Peterborough City and Hinchingbrooke Hospital maternity units:
We would like to say a huge thank you for your continued patience as we continue to work on safely reintroducing gas and air to our maternity units. We know that it has been an anxious and unsettling time for our staff, women and birthing people.
At Peterborough we continue to work with our Estates and Facilities team to safely reintroduce gas and air to our rooms on Delivery Suite. Our progress has been slower than we would have liked due to currently not being able to find a solution that meets all safety requirements.
Several of our rooms at Hinchingbrooke now have gas and air and our Estates and Facilities Team are currently working on installing ventilation units in the birthing pool room and some of our Midwifery Led rooms on Primrose Birthing Suite to enable us to reinstate gas and air here. The safety of our staff, women and birthing people remains our highest priority.
If you would like to transfer your care to Hinchingbrooke Hospital please have a conversation with your community midwife who can talk through your choices.
Women who are expecting to give birth in the coming weeks and are concerned at the potential lack of gas and air for pain relief, can do the following:
- Speak to your community midwife to discuss your options, this may include a change to your birth plan, switching to a homebirth or switching to another maternity unit
- If you are unable to talk to your community midwife, or your request is more urgent, then please call either the Maternity Helpline at PCH on 01733 677266 or the Labour Ward at Hinchingbrooke on 01480 847480/81
Please take a look at our FAQs for any questions that you have, you can also contact us via nwangliaft.maternityservices@nhs.net with any questions or concerns you have.
