A NEW Ross family have spoken to The Echo of their despair at the plight of a young girl in County Kildare who was denied a medical card, despite having a serious illness, while they themselves received a card for their father who has been dead for 14 years.

The family of the late John Furlong were angered when a card for Mr. Furlong arrived at the family home last week despite the fact he had passed away in 2001 and the HSE were notified of that fact on three separate occasions by family members.

Remarkably, it’s the second card to be issued to the late Mr. Furlong in three years.

Tina Flynn, a daughter of Mr. Furlong, spoke of her dismay when the card arrived at her mother, Mary’s, home last week.

She said her mam was horrified when she got the card but what angered the family even more was the fact that some people who are very much in need of cards are being denied them.

The family said the story of the young girl from Co. Kildare who is suffering from cancer yet still can’t get a medical card tugged at their heartstrings.

“How come she can’t get one yet they can send one to a man who has been dead for 14 years.”

The family think some confusion may have arisen when their GPs retired recently and the family’s files were transferred to a different practice.

“The card came back for my mother but then a week later the card came for our father too,” Mr. Furlong’s daughter told this newspaper.

“Obviously, they still have in on file even though they’ve been told three times that he had passed away,” she added.

“Lots of people have said to us they experienced similar issues and that they received medical cards for people who have passed away.”

While the Furlongs said there are certain circumstances where crossed-wires could occur there isn’t really any excuse for the HSE issuing a medical card to Mr. Furlong after it was informed a number of times that he was deceased.

“Our brother passed away last year and his name was also John and when something comes in the post, which they occasionally do, with that name on it we’re not sure if its something for him or our father so it really was upsetting,” said Mr. Furlong’s daughter.

“Even though there are no real consequences for us it’s a very serious situation for other people because if cards are being issued to people who are deceased it could mean that someone out there who really could do with a medical card is being denied,” she added.

She also said the family decided to contact the media because they are “sick of it” and they hope that by drawing attention to their situation it might help families like that of the girl in County Kildare to get the help they need.

“We are concerned about that child and we would like to think that highlighting this might help her get her card.”