Scotland can and should go further in rolling out free personal care, a Green MSP has said, as ministers move a step closer to implementing Frank’s Law.
The legislation, inspired by the campaign work of the widow of former Dundee United footballer Frank Kopel, will see free personal care to under-65s with degenerative conditions rolled out. However, Alison Johnstone, the Scottish Greens’ health spokesperson, says a nation-wide implementation would help “prevent unnecessary hospital admissions”.
Questioning the health minister at a Holyrood committee, Johnstone also says the proposal would help get patients home from hospital faster.
Johnstone, a Green MSP for Lothian, said: “Social care is essential to people’s health and dignity, yet there remains a vast gap between the value of care and the support or pay that carers receive. Nobody should face poverty because of the care they give.
“The roll-out of Frank’s Law has our support, but ministers must recognise that investing in social care helps to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions and get people home from hospital quickly, regardless of age.
“Further still, with devolved powers we can and should go further in giving greater support to young carers and those in education. We can also increase the carer’s allowance, a proposal I suggested in parliamentary debate in April 2017.”
https://greens.scot/news/
25
0
20
