Abstract
The British Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (BSPRM) is the professional organisation representing UK physicians who specialise in Rehabilitation Medicine (RM), also known internationally as Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (PRM). 1 This medical specialty focuses on the diagnosis and management of disability caused by illness or injury, regardless of the body system affected. Unlike other specialities that concentrate on specific organs, PRM takes a holistic approach, addressing the whole person and applies medical skill to improve functional ability and enhance quality of life. Rehabilitation physicians are generalists with specialist expertise in long-term care, dedicated to helping individuals gain independence and live fuller lives—adding life to years, rather than just years to life.
The society in the UK traces its roots back to 1942 with the establishment of the British Association of Physical Medicine, created to support the recovery and functional rehabilitation of war victims. 2 In 1970, it was renamed the British Association of Rheumatology and Rehabilitation. In 1983, the society split into 2: the British Society of Rheumatology, focused on rheumatic diseases, and the Medical Disability Society, which addressed non-rheumatic disabilities. A few years later, the Medical Disability Society evolved into the British Society of Rehabilitation Medicine (BSRM).
Despite considerable workforce expansion in other medical specialities in the UK, RM experienced limited workforce growth over the next 3 decades. In 2016, members proposed the Rehabilitation Medicine Expansion Proposal (RMEP), 3 which sparked a series of internal discussions around strategies for expanding the scope and workforce of the specialty. Ultimately, in 2022, to align itself with the international name, the society changed its name to the British Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (BSPRM) following a membership ballot. 1
Since 2022, the society has experienced a threefold growth, with its membership increasing from 200 (in 2022) to 650 by 2025. This includes 450 members within BSPRM and an additional 200 in the newly established subsociety—the International Post COVID and Post-Infection Conditions (IPIC) Society—launched with support from an NHS England grant in 2024. The membership has also become more diverse, with a growing number of Allied Health Professionals and researchers joining as associate members. The society’s financial position has notably strengthened, driven by membership, grants, courses, sponsorship and rising attendance at its annual scientific meetings.
Looking ahead, the society is set to host its first major international conference—the World Federation of Neurological Rehabilitation (WFNR) Congress—in 2030. Its members have started key initiatives within the International Society of PRM (ISPRM), such as the International Framework for Rehabilitation Medics (INFORM). 4 Additionally, BSPRM continues to play a key role in national policy and clinical development, contributing to several national guidelines and collaborating closely with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
The PRM workforce in the UK remains one of the smallest in Europe, with only 0.3 specialists per 100 000 population—well below the European average of 3 per 100 000. 5 Despite this, the specialty is now on a clear path of growth, driven by the recent momentum and influence of BSPRM. Members have begun to expand into areas that were previously considered beyond the traditional scope of specialty, including physical (musculoskeletal) medicine, pain management, cardiac rehabilitation and post-infection conditions such as Long COVID, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), and autonomic dysfunction.
Encouragingly, there has been a rise in the number of applicants filling existing UK PRM training posts, along with the creation of new positions across multiple regions. The upcoming launch of the National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) 6 —the UK’s first National Health Service (NHS) dedicated specialist centre for rehabilitation-focused clinical care and research—is also expected to significantly boost interest and investment in the specialty.
In 2023, the World Health Assembly (WHA) adopted its first-ever global resolution focused on strengthening rehabilitation within health systems. 7 According to the Global Burden of Disease study and WHO estimates, approximately one-third of the worldwide population lives with health conditions that would benefit from rehabilitation. 8 Yet, in many countries—including the UK—over half of those in need do not receive appropriate rehabilitation services. 9
Effective rehabilitation requires a multidisciplinary approach delivered by trained professionals, with rehabilitation physicians playing a central role. However, the UK’s PRM workforce is critically undersized and would require at least a 10-fold increase to meet the current European average. As a signatory to the WHA resolution, the UK government now has a responsibility to invest in expanding and training the PRM workforce. Without such investment, it will be challenging to provide adequate medical input across the spectrum of disabling conditions within multidisciplinary rehabilitation programmes.
The BSPRM remains committed to driving the growth of the specialty and fostering a sense of community and shared purpose among its members as they take on this vital challenge.
