A family have been left feeling “devastated” after a hospital breached a 91-year-old Sikh man’s religious beliefs by cutting his beard without their consent.

The incident happened at a major hospital in west London on Thursday morning during a routine sponge bath.

The vulnerable patient had a mini stroke leaving him unable to communicate or sometimes be aware of his surroundings, his family said.

In a statement, the hospital which cannot be named due to safety concerns, said: “We are deeply sorry and are taking this matter very seriously, this was a genuine mistake and are now working closely to support the patient’s family.”

In the Sikh religion, hair is considered to be sacred, with the Rehat Maryada or Sikh code of conduct forbidding the cutting or shaving any body hair for initiated Sikhs.

Keisha Sethi, a family member from west London, said she was “gobsmacked” when she saw her grandfather.

She said her auntie was in tears, her dad was “frustrated” and she said if her grandfather could react he would be “furious”.

The man has been in hospital for four weeks and family members visit every day.

Ms Sethi said she felt “so helpless” and wanted to spread awareness that “everyone’s belief systems need to be respected and the same level of care needs to be provided no matter what the person’s ethnic background is”.

She added that the area was ethnically diverse, and expected staff to be educated about the religious beliefs.

Another family member, who wanted to remain anonymous, said they were “devastated” and “hurt” after learning this happened to the man who kept his hair for more than 90 years.

They said “absolutely no” to cutting the hair when nurses had asked to trim it before.

The family were outside the room in the corridor when the incident took place and were told his beard was cut as food was caught in it.

Doctors and staff have apologised and the family understands they “tried to do the right thing”, but “because of our beliefs and our culture, it was the worst thing they could have done”.

The family added: “Awareness needs to be out there and staff need to go through training before they’re put on the floor dealing with ethnic minorities.”

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