Fife Council has backed a move calling for a guarantee of free care to people under 65 suffering from dementia.
Scotland’s third largest local authority has unanimously agreed to write to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon urging her to introduce Frank’s Law.
Frank’s Law was first mooted after the death of former Dundee United player Frank Kopel, who died in April last year after spending six years with vascular dementia.
His widow, Amanda Kopel, who recently took her campaign for better care for dementia sufferers to the Scottish Parliament, yesterday addressed the full Fife Council in Glenrothes with a heartbreaking account of her husband’s demise.
The proposed law has been publicly backed by a host of famous faces, including Manchester United legend Denis Law and Dundee United favourite Hamish McAlpine.
The Association of Former Manchester United Players, which counts Sir Bobby Charlton among its members, and Dundee United have also pledged support.
Tay Bridgehead Fife councillor Tim Brett was the driving force in bringing the proposal to a council debate.
Seconded by fellow Liberal Democrat councillor Susan Leslie, the motion read: “We ask that the chief executive, Steve Grimmond, write to the First Minister asking her to introduce a Frank’s Law so that free personal care is extended to under-65s with dementia.”
Introducing Mrs Kopel to yesterday’s 78-councillor strong Fife Council, Fife Provost Jim Leishman, who was chairing the meeting, recalled Frank Kopel from his playing days and described him as a “real gentleman”. Mr Brett, who is a former chief executive of Tayside Health Board, told The Courier afterwards: “I was very pleased the council backed this. A similar motion has been passed by Dundee and Angus councils.”