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.
