Frank’s Law victory on free care for under-65s

FREE personal care will be offered to under-65s with degenerative conditions from next year after MSPs rejected calls from councils for a delay.

Holyrood’s health committee unanimously backed the introduction of ‘Frank’s Law’, named after the late former Dundee United star Frank Kopel.

It rejected a plea from council umbrella group Cosla to delay full introduction of the reform until 2021 to help local authorities cope with an expected upturn in demand.

The Scottish Government yesterday admitted it still does not know how much the move will cost – though Cosla said it would be at least £33million a year.

Mr Kopel was diagnosed with early onset dementia at 59 and faced bills of £1,200 a month for care until he died, aged 65.

His widow, Amanda Kopel, led the campaign for people with conditions such as dementia to receive free personal care, currently only available to those over 65.

Scottish Tory health spokesman Miles Briggs said: ‘This is a step forward in ending the discrimination for people under the age of 65 in Scotland who need help with personal care.’

Health Secretary Shona Robison said discussions on costs would reach a conclusion ‘well in advance’ of implementation, adding ‘once we see the actual level of unmet need’ the Government will ensure it is ‘in line with the resources provided’.

‘This is a step forward’