A Darlington teenager with “complex” medical needs who underwent spinal surgery died two days after being discharged, an inquest has heard.

Alfie Bower, 15, had an operation on his spine to treat scoliosis at the Royal Victoria Infirmary on November 21, 2022, but developed “chest problems” as a result.

He was discharged from hospital three weeks later and passed away on December 14.

An inquest examining his death at Crook Coroners’ Court heard yesterday (Monday, September 16) the schoolboy, who was one of three children, was referred to the Newcastle Hospitals Trust from the South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust in April 2021 for scoliosis treatment.

His condition had “progressed considerably” over the years. He was added to the waiting list for surgery in October of that year and underwent the “high-risk” operation a year later.

The court heard witness statements and evidence from the days leading up to his discharge from hospital and the care he received both on the ward and in the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU).

The inquest, which is due to last three days, concentrated on the events of November 29, one week into his recovery.

Senior nurse Peter Busby, who was working on Alfie’s ward during his recovery, said the teenager was “restless and was tired” when he started his shift that morning while being treated for a chest infection.

He added that he made sure Alfie was “comfortable” before his afternoon physiotherapy session “wiped him out” and meant that he needed extra oxygen.

Mr Busby said: “You could just see that he was tired. I could see that he was trying to turn himself into another position. You could tell that he was working hard with his breathing.”

The court then heard that others began to notice that Alfie was “beginning to tire out” and increased his oxygen as he was “not comfortable” with the level it was at.

The inquest also heard about care given to Alfie in regard to his gastric issues, which involved a tube inserted into his stomach to feed him.

Doctors paused Alfie’s feeding bag being drained after his father, Graeme, raised fears his son was uncomfortable, the court heard. He was said to have “improved for a period of time”.

Mr Busby added that “because his condition did improve” there was no need to transfer him back to the PICU.

The court then heard from Dr Paul Bellis, a paediatric consultant specialist in gastroenterology who was involved with Alfie's care and saw him on November 29.

He hold the court: “(Alfie) had been on our radars as a patient with a chest infection. The first time I saw Alfie was that afternoon.

“I was aware that he was vulnerable given his background. We were dealing with really quite a serious infection.

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“I remember going in to the room and was quite struck at how vulnerable he looked at that stage.”

Asked whether this would have warranted a move back to the PICU, Dr Bellis said he felt Alfie was “at the threshold” of warranting a move but was in a “grey area” as to whether he needed intensive care.

The inquest continues.