A HSE inquiry has begun to discover why a letter was sent to a Co Mayo woman who has been dead for more than 17 years, notifying her of a hospital appointment.
Ellen Curran, Liskillen, Ballinrobe, was asked to attend the oncology unit at University Hospital Galway at 2.30pm on September 23rd.
Her family of six children were shocked to receive the letter and are demanding an explanation from the HSE.
One of her sons, Dominick Curran, explained yesterday: "My mother died, aged 68, on November 22nd, 1990. The fact that this letter has been addressed to her leads one to question the efficiency of the modern health service. This is incompetence of the highest order."
He said he also found it "disturbing" that the name of his mother's doctor on the appointment letter was listed as "unknown" and her birth date was inaccurate.
"It raises the question of whether the appointment notice should have gone to another living, person."
Fine Gael TD Michael Ring has criticised the HSE for its "incompetence" in scheduling an appointment for a dead person.
He also criticised as "outrageous" the fact that Mrs Curran's appointment was scheduled for more than five months time. "Women in Mayo now have to wait five months for cancer investigations to be conducted in Galway," Mr Ring said. "This would not happen if oncology services were continued at Mayo General Hospital.
"This debacle proves health services are in complete disarray at the moment."
A HSE West spokesperson said yesterday the matter was being fully investigated and a statement would be issued in due course.