Kate Garraway's heartbreaking admission on one year anniversary of husband Derek Draper's death
Kate Garraway has made a heartbreaking admission on the one year anniversary of her husband Derek Draper’s death. The Good Morning Britain star lost her husband, with whom she shares two children, last year when Derek died at the age of 56 after he became seriously ill with Covid-19 in March 2020.
During Friday, 3 January’s episode of GMB, Kate, 57, challenged Health Secretary Wes Streeting on the reasons why proposals to the long-term funding of adult social care in England aren’t likely to be delivered before 2028. As part of the discussion, the broadcaster spoke about her own experience funding care for Derek, revealing that it had left her with “excessive unpayable debt” as a result.
“I’m going to be honest, in my mind I’m thinking about the situation of Derek. It actually happens to be the anniversary of his death, the one year anniversary of his death today, but that’s a day that’s only relevant to me. But over the last few weeks, you know, the family and I have been talking about the challenges we faced this time last year, this time last year,” she said.
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“And one of the overriding ones, he went back into intensive care before he passed away, was dealing with the funding of care. At the time of his death there were two appeals that hadn't been heard for funding. It kept being pushed back and pushed back.
“In the meantime I'm lucky I have an incredible job which is well paid. I was having to fund the situation. Now I've got excessive unpayable debt because of it. If I'm in that position, what else are people going to be? People can't afford four more years of this.”
Following Derek’s death one year ago, Kate has opened up about the financial issues that she has faced and in the documentary Kate Garraway: Derek's Story, the TV personality discussed the cost of caring for her late husband. She has previously estimated that her debts are around £500,000 to £800,000.
“I'm ashamed of the fact I'm in debt, but I'm also proud,” Kate told GMC co-host Richard Madeley while talking about the documentary. When asked why she was “ashamed”, the mum-of-two explained that it was because despite having a “well paid” job, she still struggled to make things work.
“Well, because I have an incredible job that I love, that is very well paid. I'm not a carer, travelling miles, paying their own transport to go and help somebody for minimum wage. I'm somebody that's very well paid. So, I just feel ashamed that I couldn't make it work,” she said.
