article_snippet: Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust halted upper gastrointestinal (GI) operations for throat and stomach cancer patients last year.
article_snippet: Patients requiring specialist keyhole surgery were referred to St Thomas' Hospital in London for a period of 12 months.
article_snippet: But Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust Kent has now said the decision to stop the operations at A hospital will be permanent.
article_snippet: Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust said a decision to refer upper gastrointestinal operations for throat and stomach cancer patients to St Thomas' in London, taken last year, will be a permanent move .
article_snippet: Medical director Paul Sigston said: 'Tunbridge Wells NHS 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. '
article_snippet: Major upper GI cancer surgery will not be carried out at MTW and we are currently working with we NHS partners to plan the long-term strategy for patients needing this kind of treatment.'
article_snippet: Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust initially suspended operations in December 2012 following two deaths and resumed in January 2013 before three more fatalities forced three more fatalities to stop again.
highlights_snippet: Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust halted surgery last year .
  
highlights_snippet: Upper gastrointestinal (GI) operations referred to St Thomas' Hospital .
  
highlights_snippet: Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust has now said decision to stop surgery will be a permanent one .