Joy as Frank’s Law finally set to become reality – giving sick under-65s free care
THE widow of footballer Frank Kopel told of her joy yesterday as MSPs moved to extend free care to under-65s for dementia, the illness which claimed his life.
Frank’s Law, lodged by Tory MSP Miles Briggs, follows a lengthy campaign by Amanda Kopel, wife of the former Dundee United player, who died in 2014 after a six-year battle.
His death came only weeks after his 65th birthday, the age at which he became eligible for free care.
Before that his family had to pay hundreds of pounds a week for him to be cared for at home.
Mrs Kopel was at the Scottish parliament to see the Member’s Bill – which could cost an estimated £40-60million a year – introduced. It also seeks to extend free care to under-65s with conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and cancer. A consultation will take place but there is majority support for the change at Holyrood, with the Conservatives, Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens all in favour.
Mrs Kopel said: ‘I’m ecstatic about this. It’s been a long four years since Frank and I began the campaign and in that time we lost Frankie to that horrible disease.
‘Every day I can still hear him saying the words to me – “Amanda, tell them. It’s too late for me but it’s going to help other people”.’
The grandmother of two said debilitating illnesses
‘It will help other people’
‘don’t wait about till you’re 65 then suddenly strike’.
Mr Briggs said: ‘The first parliament united to pass free personal care, this is rectifying the wrong of having age discrimination in there.’
Health Secretary Shona Robison said the Government was committed to examining the extension of free care to under-65s, while protecting their existing benefits.
She added: ‘We are running a feasibility study to consider the costs, benefits and consequences of extending free personal care, including analysis of additional demand.’