Health ombudsman hits out at union actions affecting hospital patients Commissioner for Health at the Office of the Ombudsman issued warning on third industrial action affecting patients in hospitals and residents in care homes 21 April 2021, 11:57am by Laura Calleja Latest directives issued on Monday had called on employees not to bathe patients and residents, including the changing of nappies. “This affects mainly patients and residents who are incontinent,” the commissioner said. A third union that issued directives affeting patients in hospitals and residents in care homes, were against human dignity, the Commissioner for Health at the Office of the Ombudsman warned.