The Waitemata District Health Board and a nurse have been criticised for the care they provided a man with dementia, who later died.

A day after the 87-year-old was admitted, he had a fall and was supposed to be checked on every 15 minutes.

The registered nurse caring for the man failed to undertake a number of checks and inadequately handed over the man's care to another nurse before taking a meal break.

When the nurse returned - it was discovered he'd left the ward two hours earlier, and was found by a member of the public.

He later died of a brain bleed.

The Deputy Health and Disability Commissioner has recommended the DHB review the training of nursing staff over the care of elderly patients with dementia.