Appeal for Angus Council to petition Scottish Government on ‘Frank’s Law’ delayed

A public appeal for Angus Council chiefs to petition the Scottish Government on “Frank’s Law” has been delayed until 2015.

The campaign named after late Dundee United footballer and Kirriemuir resident Frank Kopel aims to have free personal care extended to under-65s who have dementia and is being led by his wife, Amanda.

The local authority is being urged to press the Scottish Government on the issue.

Councillor David May had filed a motion to be debated at a meeting of the full council on Thursday, but is suffering from a throat infection.

It has been agreed to delay the item until February.

The motion, if passed, would require the council’s chief executive to write to the First Minister and request an extension to the policy of free personal care.

A joint review by the Scottish Government and Cosla is under way into the issue and is expected to be completed early in 2015.

In a Courier interview, Nicola Sturgeon said she would look “supportively and sympathetically” at any proposals to improve care for people with dementia.

However, the former Cabinet Secretary for Health refused to offer any guarantee of implementing the law.