article_snippet: A hospital has permanently stopped specialist keyhole surgery after five cancer patients died from avoidable complications.
article_snippet: But subsequent investigations found more than 30 per cent of patients who underwent the surgery developed complications.
article_snippet: A report by the Royal College of Surgeons last May concluded that surgeons at Maidstone Hospital were unable to provide a safe service.
article_snippet: Three surgeons were barred from carrying out the procedures, but all have been allowed to continue doing general surgery.
article_snippet: A report by the Royal College of Surgeons found there was a high rate of complications associated with the keyhole techniques, and that after care for patients was poor.