The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Frank’s Law takes first steps to being written into the statute book
bill: All opposition parties at Holyrood pledge support for personal care move
Frank’s Law will today take its first official steps towards becoming law.
Newly-promoted Conservative shadow health secretary Miles Briggs will lodge a private member’s bill at Holyrood with cross-party backing.
Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale is expected to attend the event, while the Liberal Democrats and Greens have restated their backing for the campaign, meaning majority support remains at the Scottish Parliament despite the SNP’s refusal to back Amanda Kopel’s campaign to end age discrimination for personal care.
Health Secretary Shona Robison said the Scottish Government was already committed to examining the extension of free personal and nursing care to those under 65 “while protecting existing provision”.
Dundee United legend Frank Kopel was diagnosed with vascular dementia aged just 59 and his family was forced to pay hundreds of pounds a week so he could be cared for at home up until his death in 2014, less than three weeks after he became eligible for free personal care on his 65th birthday.
The Courier supports Amanda’s battle to close the loophole that sees younger people forced to pay for care.
Sir Andy Murray, Denis Law, Brian Cox, Alex Salmond, a number of football teams and a collection of councils have all joined the campaign.
The bill will be lodged as MSPs chew over a new three-year strategy for dementia aimed at improving support for sufferers.
The 2017 to 2020 plan will build on progress made during the previous three years, including the provision of support following diagnosis, taking account of individual needs and circumstances.
It will also address the increasing proportion of older people developing dementia later in life, often alongside other chronic conditions.
Alzheimer Scotland welcomed the strategy but warned it required local areas to maintain and increase their investment in dementia care.
Meanwhile, Mr Briggs’ promotion came as part of a Scottish Tory shadow cabinet reshuffle that also saw North East Scotland MSP Liam Kerr bumped up to become shadow justice secretary.