Remembering Dr Richard Greenwood
Based on a tribute by Arshia Qasim Ahmad and adapted for BSPRM
The British Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine is deeply saddened to learn of the death of Dr Richard Greenwood, a pioneering clinician whose leadership, research, teaching and service development helped shape modern neurorehabilitation in the UK.
Richard was one of the most influential figures in the development of specialist neurorehabilitation services for people with stroke and acquired brain injury. At the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, he was a founding consultant member and lead clinician of the Acute Brain Injury Service, while at Homerton Hospital he led the Regional Neurological Rehabilitation Unit. Through these and many other roles, he was instrumental in establishing the principle that early, coordinated rehabilitation should be an integral part of neurological care.
His vision extended beyond individual services. Colleagues have reflected on his pivotal role in developing the stroke service at Queen Square and his foresight in bringing together stroke and head injury rehabilitation within a single specialist service. This model evolved into what became the Acute Brain Injury Unit, helping to define approaches to rehabilitation that are now widely recognised as best practice.
Richard's influence was equally evident through his academic work. The Handbook of Neurological Rehabilitation, which he co-edited, became a foundational text for generations of rehabilitation professionals. For many entering the specialty, it provided both practical guidance and a broader understanding of rehabilitation as thoughtful, multidisciplinary care centred on the goals and experiences of the individual patient.
Those who worked alongside Richard remember a clinician of remarkable intellectual curiosity, humility and patience. Arshia Ahmad recalls first meeting him as a student at Queen Square and later working with him at the Wellington Hospital. His ward rounds were renowned for their thoroughness. He never rushed past an important question or overlooked a detail that mattered to a patient. Instead, he brought together therapists, nurses, doctors and families, ensuring that every perspective contributed to understanding the person's situation and planning their care.
Richard embodied the principles of multidisciplinary rehabilitation long before they became commonplace. He demonstrated that successful rehabilitation is not a collection of isolated interventions but a coordinated endeavour focused on helping people rebuild their lives after neurological illness or injury. His clinical example shaped the practice of countless rehabilitation physicians, neurologists, therapists and trainees, many of whom have gone on to become leaders in the field themselves.
For many BSPRM members, Richard was both mentor and inspiration. His influence can be seen not only in the services he helped establish and the research he contributed to, but also in the values he championed: careful listening, teamwork, clinical excellence and unwavering commitment to patients.
The BSPRM extends its sincere condolences to Richard's family, friends, former colleagues and all who had the privilege of working and learning alongside him. His contribution to neurorehabilitation was immense, and his legacy will continue through the services he built, the clinicians he trained and the patients whose lives were improved by his work.
“His example shaped my understanding of good neurorehabilitation, not as a set of isolated interventions, but as thoughtful, coordinated care focused on what matters to the patient.” – Arshia Qasim Ahmad.