Dr Roger Blackwood is a Cardiologist with considerable experience in adult cardiology. His areas of special interest are coronary heart disease, angina, heart failure, arrythmias and hypertension.
Dr Blackwood’s private cardiology practice covers a wide range of cardiac conditions. His clinical approach is based on consultation with a detailed history taking in conjunction with non-invasive cardiac investigations which include:
- 12 lead ECG
- Exercise tolerance testing (Stress/Treadmill Test)
- Echocardiography
- 24/48 hour ECG monitoring
- Blood pressure monitoring
Dr Blackwood worked in the NHS from 1981 – 2002 and was the only Cardiologist providing care for East Berkshire and South Buckinghamshire until 2001 (population base of 480,000).
In responding to the lack of up to date Cardiology equipment and facilities at Wexham Park Hospital when he was appointed, Dr Blackwood set up the fund raising charity, the Wexham Park Heart Trust with Sir Terry Wogan as President to address this problem.
Over the years, the Heart Trust raised more than £1 million and, in 1988,built the first Cardiac Unit at Wexham Park Hospital with supporting provision at St Marks Hospital, Maidenhead. The Heart Trust continued to raise funds providing doctors for clinics and hospital equipment until 2001 when the Heart Trust was absorbed into Wexham Park Hospital Trust.
It was very important to Dr Blackwood to ensure the local population served by the Cardiac Unit at Wexham Park Hospital benefited from a high standard of care. In order to do this, Dr Blackwood set up the ‘healthy eating education’ project ‘the Slough Health Habit’ and pioneered a post-heart attack rehabilitation programme in conjunction with the ‘Throb’ charity.
He published a regular, weekly education column in the local media for several years. This was translated into Gujarati and Urdu to reach the Asian population who are at higher risk of heart disease.
In 2002 Dr Blackwood took up a post as Honorary Tutor at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford and went on to be appointed Honorary Consultant Cardiologist at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford and Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Oxford where he teaches medical students. He has been voted ‘Teacher of the Month’ by his students many times since his appointment.
He has had a very busy private practice since 1988 and has been personally involved in the creation of the first class cardiology services offered in the private hospitals in East Berkshire.
Dr Blackwood is married to Libby, a South African Cardiac Nurse Tutor who manages his practice. They have 4 adult children who are engaged in professional careers.