BSc Edin 1968, MB ChB 1971, MD 1988; MRCP UK 1975; MRCGP 1979; DCH Eng 1979; DRCOG 1977; MFPHM 1987; MSc Manch 1986; FRCP Edin 1998.
Greatorex studied medicine in Edinburgh and was house physician at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary before being appointed senior house officer at Hammersmith Hospital. Greatorex then spent some time as flying doctor in South Africa. In 1987 Greatorex was appointed specialist in community medicine at Salford Health Authority, being promoted to director of public health in 1989. In 1994 Greatorex became chief executive of the newly formed Salford and Trafford Health Authority. He was also honorary assistant lecturer in epidemiology and public health at the University of Manchester. Greatorex retired in 2001, having been awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Science by the University of Salford.