Age Scotland calls for workforce investment to ensure the success for Frank's law

As the expansion of free personal and nursing care comes into effect (1 April), the leading charity for older people, Age Scotland, is calling on the Scottish Government and local authorities to ensure resources are properly allocated to deliver the necessary support.

It has been recently reported that the Edinburgh Integrated Joint Board alone is facing a funding black hole of £12.6 million to deliver health and social care next year. The new free personal and nursing care expansion has been allocated £30 million from the Scottish Government for this year; however, for IJBs like Edinburgh who are already finding it difficult to fund their current services, Age Scotland are raising concerns that properly implementing Frank’s Law may become increasingly complicated for local authorities.

The new social care entitlement, known as Frank’s Law, was spearheaded by Amanda Kopel, the widow of former Dundee United footballer Frank, who was diagnosed with dementia at 59. The family spent hundreds of pounds a month for his care over the following six years. Frank died 19 days after his 65th birthday, when he was finally eligible for free personal and nursing care.

The new policy ensures free personal and nursing care will be available throughout Scotland regardless of age, conditional of a needs assessment. People will be able to access this through local authorities. The Scottish Government estimates that this will benefit 9,000 people in need.

Commenting, Brian Sloan, Age Scotland’s Chief Executive said:

“Frank’s Law is positive news for people with disabilities or long term conditions and their families. However, we know that our health and social care system is under immense pressure to recruit and retain care staff as well as paying for the current level of expected service. As we’re ageing faster than the rest of the UK and people are living longer with multiple health conditions there will be further pressure on the system in years to come which must be addressed sooner rather than later.

We know from calls to our free helpline that older people already have long waits for their free personal care assessments, so while Frank’s Law will provided greater support and coverage for the thousands of Scots who need it, an honest assessment of the resources needed to deliver good quality social care for all must be had. This will include ensuring there is enough money to recruit and retain the growing numbers of trained care staff required to keep our nation’s health and social care system afloat for years to come.”

Age Scotland’s free and confidential helpline provides additional advice, support and information on social care options for people over 50 years old on 0800 12 44 222.