Philip Polkinghorne's former mistress claims her concerns about the eye surgeon's drug use were ignored by health authorities

Madison Ashton says she emailed the Health and Disability Commissioner asking to discuss Polkinghorne's substance use and behaviour in June 2021 but never received a response.

At the time, Polkinghorne was on bereavement leave after his wife Pauline Hanna's death in April.

The Commissioner has now apologised to Ashton, saying due to an administrative error the email was misfiled.