Midwife Struck Off for Repeated Laughing Gas Misuse in London Hospitals
A midwife has been permanently removed from the professional register after being discovered inhaling laughing gas on multiple occasions within hospital side rooms while responsible for patient care. Olanike Toye was struck off by a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) panel last week following a series of incidents that revealed a pattern of misconduct across two separate NHS trusts in London.
Pattern of Misconduct Across Two Hospital Trusts
The disciplinary panel concluded that Toye's actions 'involved planning and premeditation and formed a pattern of misconduct across two employers.' The incidents occurred over a six-month period at both Lewisham Hospital and Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, where Toye was employed as a registered midwife.
Entonox, commonly known as gas and air, is a medical mixture intended to provide pain relief for women during labour. When inhaled recreationally, it can produce short-lived feelings of euphoria and relaxation. The panel emphasised that the primary concern was not the minor loss of medical supplies but the potential impact on patient safety and the professional reputation of midwifery.
Three Separate Incidents of Gas Inhalation
The first incident occurred in September 2022 at Lewisham Hospital when a colleague entered what she believed was an empty room while searching for glasses. Instead, she discovered Toye alone holding the gas and air mixture with an attached mouthpiece. According to witness testimony, Toye 'looked shocked' and immediately threw the pipe onto a bed.
Since mouthpieces for these medical devices are individually wrapped, the panel determined Toye must have deliberately unwrapped one after entering the room alone. Although not reported immediately, the witness informed a colleague who submitted an official email report two weeks later.
In a second incident, another midwife heard the 'familiar noise' of a gas and air pipe being used from an apparently empty room. Upon investigation, she found Toye inhaling the substance again, appearing 'unbalanced and fell slightly, knocking into a bin.' The witness advised Toye to take a break to recover her composure.
The third occurrence happened after Toye transferred to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in 2023. A colleague 'flung' open the doors of a darkened room to find Toye holding laughing gas. The witness reported being 'so shocked by what I was seeing and stood with my mouth wide open.'
Disoriented Behaviour and Dishonest Defence
During this final incident, Toye appeared visibly disoriented and offered contradictory explanations. She initially claimed to be searching for something, then picked up a birthing ball and stated it was for a woman on the postnatal ward. She subsequently corrected herself twice regarding which patient required the equipment before leaving the room and 'tripping up on her way out.'
The NMC panel highlighted that 'honesty is central to professional practice' and found Toye's conduct involved dishonesty directly linked to her clinical role. They stated: 'You breached trust by using a drug while responsible for patient care, that your defence was rejected as inherently dishonest, and that you have shown only limited insight.'
Professional Consequences and Patient Safety Concerns
Olanike Toye, who registered as a midwife in 2019 and began working at Lewisham Hospital before transferring to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in 2023, has now been permanently struck off. The panel determined that 'a striking-off order is the only appropriate sanction in your case.'
The ruling emphasised that such behaviour 'could bring the profession into disrepute' and created genuine concerns about Toye's ability to practise safely while under the influence of a substance intended for patient pain relief. The case underscores the strict professional standards maintained by the Nursing and Midwifery Council regarding substance misuse in clinical environments.
