Mr Oliver Richards
MBChB (Hons) | BSc (Hons) | FRCS (SN)
Consultant Paediatric Neurosurgeon
Mr Richards is a Consultant Paediatric Neurosurgeon (Locum) currently practising at Alder Hey Children's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool — one of the UK's foremost specialist children's hospitals. His practice encompasses paediatric neuro-oncology, neuro-vascular, trauma and hydrocephalus subspecialty work.
He completed his neurosurgical training in Yorkshire and holds a Certificate of Completion of Training in Neurosurgery (2023). He undertook a clinical fellowship in Paediatric Neurosurgery at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), Toronto — one of the world's leading paediatric neurosurgical centres. Prior to his current post he held consultant posts, each on a locum basis, at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and, before that, at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Mr Richards sits on the panel for the Joint Committee on Intercollegiate Examinations Question Writing for the Neurosurgery exit examination, is an examiner at the University of Liverpool School of Medicine, and is a Specialty Advisor for the Neurosurgery Update published by the Royal College of Surgeons of England. He is actively recruiting and managing patients within his unit for the ENLIVEN-UK multicentre trial.
Mr Richards completed the Bond Solon Course in Report Writing for Expert Witnesses in May 2026. A full curriculum vitae is available on request.
Contact for Expert Opinion
Qualifications
- CCT Neurosurgery (2023)
- FRCS (SN) (2022)
- MRCS (Eng) (2016)
- MBChB (Hons) — University of Leeds (2012)
- BSc (Hons) Anatomy — University of Leeds (2010)
Current Post
Consultant Paediatric Neurosurgeon (Locum)
Alder Hey Children's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
October 2025 – Present
Expert Witness Training
Bond Solon Expert Witness Course — Report Writing for Expert Witnesses (May 2026)
Appointments & Roles
- Panel Member — JCIE Question Writing Panel
- Examiner — University of Liverpool School of Medicine
- Specialty Advisor — RCS England Neurosurgery Update
Professional Experience
Consultant Posts
Consultant Paediatric Neurosurgeon (Locum)
Alder Hey Children's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool
Subspecialty practice in neuro-oncology and neuro-vascular surgery, including Vein of Galen malformations, hydrocephalus, and paediatric spinal disorders.
Consultant in Paediatric and Adult Neurosurgery (Locum)
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Consultant paediatric neurosurgical practice with adult neurosurgical on-call cover.
Consultant in Paediatric Neurosurgery (Locum)
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Fellowship
International Clinical Fellow in Paediatric Neurosurgery
The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), Toronto, Canada
Subspecialty exposure including paediatric epilepsy surgery, functional neurosurgery, MRI-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy, and complex oncological and endoscopic practice.
Neurosurgical Training
Neurosurgery Run-Through Training
Yorkshire & The Humber (West) — Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Senior House Officer — Neurosurgery
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Foundation Years Training
Yorkshire & The Humber (West)
Medico-Legal Practice
Independent Expert Witness
Richards Medico Legal Ltd
Instructions accepted from claimant and defendant solicitors and insurers in paediatric neurosurgical matters, including clinical negligence and personal injury. Reports prepared in accordance with Part 35 of the Civil Procedure Rules.
Research & Publications
Mr Richards has published in the peer-reviewed neurosurgical literature and has presented work nationally and internationally. The entries below are a selection of recent output rather than a complete record; a full publications list is available on request.
Active Research
ENLIVEN-UK — National Randomised Controlled Trial
Actively recruiting and managing trial patients within the unit. Endoscopic Lavage after Intraventricular Haemorrhage in Neonates in the UK — a national randomised controlled trial on the efficacy of neuro-endoscopic lavage.
Book Chapters
Prenatal Neurosurgery
Richards O. & Ibrahim G. In: Ethical Challenges for the Future of Neurosurgery, ed. Ammar A. & Bernstein M. Springer Nature, Switzerland.
Pediatric-Like Brain Tumors in Adults
Diaz S., Richards O., Elliot M. & Chumas P. In: Advances and Technical Standards in Neurosurgery — Volume 50, ed. Di Rocco C. Springer Nature, Switzerland (2024): 147–183. PMID: 38592530
Selected Peer-Reviewed Publications (2019–2024)
Intraoperative Changes in Large-scale Thalamic Circuitry Following Laser Ablation of Hypothalamic Hamartomas
Mithani K., Richards O., Ebden M. et al. NeuroImage: Clinical (2024) 42: 103613. PMID: 38714093
Craniocervical Fusion in the Paediatric Population — Case Series of 21 Patients
Richards O., Saeed F., Derham C. & Tyagi A. British Journal of Neurosurgery (2024) 38(1): 116–121. PMID: 36722455
A Comparison of the Extent of Resection in Pineal Region Tumours via the Occipital Transtentorial and Supracerebellar Infratentorial Approaches
Richards O., Gelder C., Nisar S. et al. British Journal of Neurosurgery (2024) 38(3): 568–572. PMID: 34009093
Hemispherectomy at The Hospital for Sick Children: Expanded Indications and Lessons Learned Over 35 Years
Mithani K., Quon J.L., Breitbart S. et al. (Richards O.L., sixth author). Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics (2024) 34(3): 252–259. PMID: 38941627
Supraorbital Minicraniotomy for Open Ommaya Reservoir Placement in Pediatric Craniopharyngiomas: A Case Series and Technical Report
Greuter L., Richards O., Malik N. et al. Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics (2023) 32(4): 421–427. PMID: 37410604
Intramedullary Spinal Cord Tumours — A Single Centre, 10-Year Review of Clinical and Pathological Outcomes
Richards O., Goacher E., Pal D., Tyagi A., Chumas P. & Derham C. British Journal of Neurosurgery (2021) 35(2): 125–128. PMID: 32441154
Outcome and Prognostic Features in Paediatric Pineoblastomas: Analysis of Cases from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Registry (1990–2007)
Selvanathan S., Richards O., Alli S. et al. Acta Neurochirurgica (2019) 161(9): 1799–1807. PMID: 31104125
Selected Presentations (2021–2025)
20-Year Experience of Surgical Management of Paediatric Craniopharyngioma
International Society of Paediatric Neurosurgery, Chile — Oral presentation
Childhood Tumours in Adults — A Single Centre Analysis
European Society of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Rome — Oral; Society of British Neurological Surgeons, Cork — Oral
Large Scale Network Changes After MRI-Guided Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy for Hypothalamic Hamartoma
Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation Congress, Canada — Oral
MRI-Guided Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy for Hypothalamic Hamartoma — The SickKids Experience
Joint Section of Pediatric Neurosurgery (AANS/CNS), Washington DC — Poster
Open Surgical Resection for Pineal Region Tumours in Children
International Society of Paediatric Neurosurgery, Singapore — Oral
Prizes & Awards
British Neurosurgical Trainee Association Codman Travelling Fellowship Award
GR8X Award — Recognition of Excellent Care
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust