Specialist surgery which was suspended at Maidstone Hospital after five deaths from avoidable complications will not return, it has been confirmed.

The Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust was forced to stop the procedure for cancer patients exactly a year ago after an internal review into the patients’ deaths.

The upper gastro intestinal (GI) keyhole surgery was moved to St Thomas’ Hospital in London and the review was passed to the General Medical Council.

At the time trust bosses said the arrangement was due to last for a year, but told the Kent Messenger this week it was not scheduled to return for the foreseeable future.

Medical director Paul Sigston said: “The trust will not be resuming upper GI cancer resection surgery but diagnostic work and cancer treatment will continue to take place locally at both Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells hospitals.

“Major upper GI cancer surgery will not be carried out at MTW and we are currently working with our NHS partners to plan the long-term strategy for patients needing this kind of treatment” - Medical director Paul Sigston

“Major upper GI cancer surgery will not be carried out at MTW and we are currently working with our NHS partners to plan the long-term strategy for patients needing this kind of treatment.”

The trust board made the decision.

The five deaths all happened in 2012-13 when patients suffered complications after having the keyhole surgery at Maidstone.

The service was given a high-profile launch in 2010, and included the opportunity for consultants and trainees to watch on screen at a lecture theatre next door.

A Freedom of Information request by the KM found more than 30% of patients who underwent the surgery there developed complications as a result.

Of the 100 procedures carried out in 2011, 2012 and 2013, 34 resulted in complications.

In 2011, of the 27 cases dealt with, seven developed problems, but the following year, of 48 carried out, 18 had complications.

The next year there were nine issues from 25 operations. Some had to undergo further corrective surgery.

The trust initially suspended operations in December 2012 following two deaths and resumed in January 2013, but following three more fatalities, stopped again.

The trust’s review, which found surgical techniques and dysfunctional working relationships played a part in the deaths, was released to the public after pressure from the KM and families.