Medico-Legal Experience

Dr David Abankwa is a Consultant in Rehabilitation Medicine who has worked as an expert witness since 2006. Currently accepting around 20 new instructions each year, in addition to ongoing cases, Dr Abankwa is a trusted legal expert receiving many repeat instructions.

As a founding member of NRC Medical Experts, Dr Abankwa provides medico-legal expertise and reports for courts in cases involving multiple sclerosis, brain inflammation, spinal cord injury, paraplegia, spinal infarction and tumours, rehabilitation following major limb amputation, management of cerebral palsy, cerebral infections including meningitis/encephalitis, prevention of pressure ulcer formation, and management of complex neurological disability.

Dr Abankwa’s dual role as a medical expert and a rehabilitation consultant allows him to provide comprehensive insights and advice, not only to his patients but also to the legal teams representing them.

Clinical Experience

Dr Abankwa is based at Swansea Bay University Health Board in Neath Port Talbot Hospital, South Wales.

Dr Abankwa leads a multi-disciplinary team managing patients who have had a recent onset of neurological illness or injury based at the Neurological Rehabilitation Unit in Neath Port Talbot Hospital, South Wales. Conditions managed on the unit include traumatic brain injury, subarachnoid haemorrhage, hypoxic brain injury and cerebral infections such as meningitis and encephalitis. The team uses comprehensive assessment and a thorough goal planning approach to optimise functional outcome in patients with complex neurological disability.

Establishing thriving Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) service in Swansea Neurological Rehabilitation clinics in West Wales, Dr Abankwa also runs an Amputee Rehabilitation clinic based in Morriston Hospital, Swansea, which offers specialist services for individuals who have endured a major limb amputation.

Beyond his clinical role, Dr Abankwa contributes significantly to the community as the Chair and founding member of the South West Wales Brain Injury Group (SWWBIG), a not-for-profit group established to provide a forum for individuals with an interest in acquired brain injury (ABI), to educate, increase knowledge of and develop and share good practice about brain injury rehabilitation.

Special Interests

Dr Abankwa specialises in the rehabilitation of patients following traumatic brain injury, brain haemorrhage, hypoxic brain injury & subarachnoid haemorrhage. He is skilled in the rehabilitation of patients with multiple sclerosis, brain inflammation and cerebral infections such as meningitis and encephalitis.

Dr Abankwa is also experienced in rehabilitation following spinal cord injury, paraplegia, tetraplegia, spinal infarction and spinal tumours as well as rehabilitation following major limb amputation. He is also interested in cerebral palsy and birth anoxia in adulthood, and management of complex neurological disability.

Dr Abankwa’s other responsibilities in Neurological Rehabilitation include running an outpatient and Spasticity management (Botulinum toxin) clinic, community visits and working with the community-based brain injury team.

Memberships of Professional Bodies

• General Medical Council: Full 4597559 – On Specialist Register
• Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh
• British Medical Association
• British Society of Rehabilitation Medicine
• British Association of Stroke Physicians
• Society for Research in Rehabilitation
• Association for the Study of Medical Education
• South West Wales Brain Injury Group (SWWBIG)

Further information

Download Dr Abankwa’s CV to learn more about his research publications, qualifications and more.

In a recent article, Dr David Abankwa shared his views about neurorehabilitation and the role of the Expert Witness. Read more in our interview with him.