Midwife Busted Twice for Gas Inhalation on Duty
Olanike Toye was caught not once, but twice inhaling Entonox – the childbirth pain relief gas – at Lewisham Hospital in September 2022. Shockingly, just months later in February 2023, she was caught red-handed doing the same at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital while on duty.
Misconduct Panel Boots Midwife Off Medical Register
On January 28, a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) panel ruled Toye’s actions amounted to serious misconduct and erased her from the medical register. Despite the damning evidence, Toye denies ever misusing Entonox.
Colleagues Catch Dizzy Nurse Twice at Lewisham
- On September 15, 2022, a colleague found Toye alone on the labour ward inhaling Entonox through a mouthpiece. She dropped the tube, looking startled when caught.
- Just days later on September 28, another worker heard the gas hissing in an empty room. They found Toye “very flustered and disoriented,” stumbling and knocking over a bin as she was confronted.
Shocking Repeat Offence at Chelsea and Westminster
Then in February 2023, staff at Chelsea and Westminster caught Toye “feverishly” sucking on the Entonox mouthpiece again. The NMC slammed her denial as “inconsistent, vague and lacking detail,” concluding she used the gas for personal enjoyment, fully aware it wasn’t hers to take.
“An ordinary, reasonable person would view this behaviour as dishonest,” the panel declared.
NHS Trust Confirms Midwife’s Job Terminated
A Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust spokesperson said: “This matter was managed in line with professional and regulatory guidance.”
“The midwife remained on the professional register and worked under strict conditions with regular NMC review.”
“Since her removal from the register, her employment with Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust has ended.”
