§ 14. Mr. Woodburnasked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent a higher proportion of doctors than of the general population die of coronary thrombosis; and what counsel his advisory council has to offer as to the reason.
§ Mr. MaclayAccording to figures published by the Registrar-General in 1955 the occupational group which includes male doctors has a mortality rate from coronary thrombosis 73 per cent. above the average for all males over 15.
179 Research is in progress on a number of projects recommended by the Advisory Council on Medical Research on the general problem of coronary heart disease and methods for its prevention and cure.
§ Mr. WoodburnIs the Secretary of State aware that this research is greatly handicapped by the fact that it has not a great deal of co-operation from the individual doctors in getting proper statistics, and that it is only in one or two districts in Scotland where this research is being done that there is this co-operation? Since doctors themselves are so vitally personally interested, would not it be a good idea to ask for their co-operation, to try to eliminate the cause of the want of it, or to find some way of avoiding it?
§ Mr. MaclayI agree that it is certainly a matter in which the doctors themselves should be interested. I will consider what the right hon. Gentleman has said.