Not only Doctors. I have seen people here on Mudcat try to diagnose someone I was describing as having a very broad 'Solfod' accent as being anything ranging from dyslexic to deprived to having learning difficulties and speech impediments!

It always was, and probably still is, a trait of 'slang' to exclude the people outside that particular area (be the area geographic or social) from knowing what is going on:-) In my memory people used to talk 'broad' to each other and 'bang' to outsiders including posh folk and doctors:-) The ability to switch between the two at a moments notice was amazing to hear and is now, seemingly, a lost art.

The worst bit though is that doctors no longer understand the language of their patients:-( A very sad reflection on the medical profession.

Cheers

DtG