MIDWIVES SUSPENDED FOR DRUG PARTIES IN WARD

A doctor and 10 midwives are under investigation after reportedly
holding "laughing gas" parties in a hospital maternity ward while
babies were being delivered near by.

The group at Wollongong Hospital, 60 miles south of Sydney, are said
to have inhaled nitrous oxide - colloquially known as laughing gas -
at the parties and to have taken sleeping tablets while on duty.

On one occasion, while two women were in labour with premature babies,
three of the four midwives on duty were reportedly taking nitrous
oxide, an anaesthetic gas that produces feelings of euphoria. The
gathering was witnessed by a junior doctor, who brought it to the
attention of the hospital authorities. The parties were said to have
been held in empty birthing rooms.

Illawarra Health Authority said yesterday that an investigation had
been launched and that the alleged offenders had been suspended or
transferred. Investigators are believed to have uncovered unusually
high usage of nitrous oxide and temazepam, a sleeping drug and
sedative, in the maternity ward.