News and updates
Proposed bill will help vulnerable adults at risk of abuse, neglect and exploitation - RNZ, 29 July 2026
Bupa dementia care failings exposed - The New Zealand Herald, 25 May 2026
Former Auckland DHB CEO: “The health system failed my husband in his last days” - Press release 26 May 2026
With the release of the Health & Disability Commissioner (HDC) report findings into the care provided for her late husband Allan Jones, former Auckland DHB CEO Ailsa Claire is speaking out about the experience.
Claire, who was CEO for what was Auckland District Health Board between 2012 and 2022 says: “Allan was skeletal and groaning in pain in his final days due to inadequate care. My whānau and I complained to the HDC to try and make change for others.
“If I, with my experience in leadership within healthcare was unable to improve things and ensure dignity for Allan, then it’s clear that some significant shifts are needed in the overall system.”
On behalf of her family, Claire complained about a number of issues covering overall care planning, oral hygiene and removal of Jones’ lifelong beard, nutrition and hydration management, weight loss, pain and falls management, with comments including:
“The overall availability of medical support is a concern both expressed by myself in the last days of Allan’s life and apparent in the nursing notes, where nurses are unable to make contact with medical staff to discuss the care of a dying man, or to obtain pain relief for him.”
“The [care] plan stated that Allan should be shaved daily despite the fact he had a full beard for all his adult life, until in the last week of his life when someone took it upon themselves to shave him.”
”The awful state of his mouth, teeth and gums in the months he was at the facility, speak again to this not being attended to or it being considered an issue.”
“Allan was a life-long vegetarian and this was accurately recorded but only a couple of weeks into his admission my daughter observed him being given meat.”
Deputy HDC Rose Wall has responded in the anonymised report:
“…I am not satisfied that Mr B received an adequate standard of care and I am critical of Bupa. I consider that Bupa Care Services NZ Limited breached Right 4(1) of the Code, which states that ‘[e]very consumer has the right to have services provided with reasonable care and skill’. I note that Bupa Care Services NZ Limited has accepted this finding”.
Now retired, Claire and a team of volunteers have set up ‘Vulnerable Adults’, advocating for legislation to give voice to adults, like Jones, who are in situations where they are at risk due to age, disability, ill health or mental distress and are unable to remove themselves.
Claire says: “As a country, our legislation is woefully inadequate and compared to other nations such as Australia, the UK and America we are way behind. We need to have a single place where people can report suspected abuse or neglect, as well as a sole agency for leading on investigations and coordinating responses.
“This is about all of us,” she says.
“In New Zealand, it’s estimated about 55,000 adults are at risk of neglect, abuse or harm and unable to remove themselves and one day this could be you or someone you know.”
Claire is urging the public to help by visiting www.vulnerableadults.org.nz and following the instructions for sending a letter to their local MP.
For interviews with Ailsa Claire or a complaint copy, please contact: Tracy Pleasants, Marketing and Communications - Vulnerable Adults M: 021 650 357