Tories vow to bring in ‘Frank’s Law’ to ensure personal care for under-65s

The Tories have pledged to implement “Frank’s Law” and bring in legislation to ensure that under-65s can access free personal care, if the Scottish Government “drags its heels” over the measure.

Conservative health spokesman Miles Briggs said his party, Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens all back the change, so there is now a majority in the Scottish Parliament to allow a Bill to be passed.

While he urged the Scottish Government to “see sense” and introduce legislation, Mr Briggs said he will act if ministers fail to do so.

The campaign for Frank’s Law has been led by Amanda Kopel, the wife of former Dundee United player Frank Kopel who was diagnosed with dementia at the age of 59.

He died in 2014, but his widow said that over the six years he had the disease, they “encountered first-hand the discrimination which existed against vulnerable people under the age of 65”.

The Frank’s Law campaign aims to end the situation where people under 65 who have conditions such as dementia, motor neurone disease, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis and cancer have to pay for the care they need.

Mr Briggs said: “There is a majority in the Scottish Parliament in favour of Frank’s Law and ministers need to recognise this and implement it without further delay.

“Hopefully the Scottish Government will see sense and put this in place without me having to go through the parliamentary process of a Member’s Bill.

“But if it does not, I will bring forward such a Bill and invite all MSPs to support it to get this put into legislation.”

He added: ” When you talk to Amanda Kopel and other campaigners, you find out there are a lot of people who really need Frank’s Law to happen.

“For so many families across Scotland, time is of the essence. As such, I will arrange a meeting with the Scottish Parliament’s non-government Bills unit to start early work on a potential Bill.”

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