A life-saving spinal surgery was the “final straw” for a vulnerable Darlington teenager who died days after being discharged from hospital where he developed a “significant” chest infection, an inquest heard.

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

He was discharged from hospital three weeks later for palliative care and passed away on December 14 at home.

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 and lived with a genetic mutation which saw him spend his life in a wheelchair.

An inquest examining his death at Crook Coroners’ Court, which continued today (Tuesday, September 17), heard evidence from Dr Henry Jones, a paediatric intensive care consultant from Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) as an expert witness to the case.

Dr Jones explained to the court that Alfie’s condition impacted his spine and accelerated his scoliosis – meaning the surgery was needed to ease his “suffering”.

He said: “Alfie had a background of epilepsy. His (condition) meant he was susceptible to seizures. He was very developmentally impaired and his ability to walk, speak and communicate were because of that condition and that impacted his spine.

“He was being cared for at home but was suffering. It was clear he required surgery to increase the quality of his life."

Dr Jones added that despite Alfie being a “complex” case, he was a “typical” child presenting with scoliosis.

Following the operation, Alfie was kept in intensive care where he was noted to be “quite sick” and needed “high levels of support” but the court heard that he did improve.

Coroner James Thompson then questioned Dr Jones whether Alfie’s chest infection was something he may have contracted before or developed because of the surgery.

Dr Jones told the court: “I don’t think he had an active chest infection (looking at) the bacteria. It seems likely to me that they were already living in his body.

“I think around the time of surgery the bacteria were given time to start an infection because he was more vulnerable.”

Following surgery as protocol Alfie spent time in the intensive care unit and eventually had his breathing tube removed on November 25 and by November 26 was being cared for on ward 10 in the hospital.

When asked whether this discharge was too quick post-surgery Dr Jones told the court, “I don’t think his discharge to the ward was premature.”

Regarding his care on the ward, Dr Jones said: “He was doing quite well and there was a nurse who noted that he was watching his iPad and suggestions were made of discharge.

“I think he was doing well for a couple of days but then on the night of November 28 and into the 29th he deteriorated, and it seems his left lung collapsed.”

This follows reports from the family that on the evening of November 28 into the following morning, Alfie had a “restless” night.

By 5pm that day Dr Jones told the court: “It seems that at that point his oxygen requirement has gone up quite a lot. This is a child who was a bit on the edge. He was on the cusp (of being needed to be sent back to ICU).

“I am not critical of the decision to keep him in there (ward 10) because there are periods where he improved. But, this is a child who is reaching his limit.”

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Addressing the court, Dr Jones said the surgery was “the final straw” for Alfie as his symptoms from scoliosis would have proved fatal “with or without surgery”.

He added: “I do think if they had left him at home in that state for the next six months, he probably would have ended up in intensive care anyway.”

The inquest is set to end tomorrow.