KATE Garraway revealed she cannot pay the “exorbitant debt” for her late husband’s care as she slammed Wes Streeting today.
The ITV presenter, 57, challenged the health secretary after Labor said today that welfare reforms may not be implemented until 2028.
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Kate Garraway fronted GMB for a year since her husband’s death Credit: ITV
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Derek Draper has faced a number of health issues, including recovering from CovidCredit: PA
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Kate described Labor and Health Secretary Wes Streeting’s social care ‘excessive unpayable debts’ Credit: ITV
A furious Kate said she is struggling to meet the huge sums following the death of former political lobbyist Derek Draper aged 56 in January last year.
He died after four years of health problems.
During his final months, Kate said she struggled to keep her “head above water” – after racking up huge debts paying for his care.
But plans for long-term funding and welfare reform in England may not be delivered until 2028.
Following the announcement, the ITV presenter launched a scathing attack during a live interview with Mr Streeting this morning.
While introducing their conversation, Kate – who has become a staunch campaigner for unpaid carers – mentioned her experience with Derek.
The presenter – whose care bill for her late husband was £800,000 – said: “I’m thinking about Derek. It just so happens that today is the anniversary of his death.
“A day that only matters to me.”
Kate then explained how two separate applications for funding for Derek’s care had been repeatedly “turned down”.
She also said her family “didn’t hear” the outcome when he went into intensive care before his death.
Kate continued: “In the meantime I’m lucky, I’ve got an amazing job that pays well, but I’ve had to fund the situation.
Good Morning Britain’s Kate Garraway talks about ‘discomfort’ with Derek Draper documentary
“Now, because of that, I have huge, unpayable debts.
“And if I’m in that position, what else are people going to be? People can’t afford four more years of this.”
Wes responded by expressing his grief and said “we’re all with you” as she “goes through” the emotional anniversary of Derek’s death.
Speaking from Carlisle, Cumbria, he added: “I think one of the reasons we’ve ended up in a short-term cycle of failure is that whenever we talk about social care, there’s always a cost involved.
GMB’s Kate Garraway and welfare reform
KATE Garraway clashed with Health Secretary Wes Streeting in a debate on welfare reform at GMB. But what is it? And when will it happen?
Kate Garraway – who tragically lost her husband Derek Draper in January 2024 – has become a staunch advocate for welfare reform and the plight of unpaid carers.
However, when Health Secretary Wes Streeting appeared on ITV’s GMB daytime show on January 3 2025 – a year since her husband’s death – it was revealed that key plans may not be delivered until 2028.
It came after ministers announced the first steps to create a National Care Service.
Health and Social Care Minister Wes Streeting will today promise to “modernize” the industry.
He is set to launch an independent commission – to be chaired by Baroness Louise Casey – on how to set up the National Care Service.
But the problems facing social care will not be reported until next year.
The second phase — with longer-term recommendations — is not expected until 2028.
Experts have now called on the government to speed up the process.
Kate herself said that the country cannot wait “four more years” for this to happen.
“And it makes people run for the hills and bury their heads in the sand in politics, because sometimes those numbers can be scary.
“One of the reasons why I honestly think it’s good to try to build cross-party consensus, even with the size of the majority we have.
“I want to come up with a plan which means that whoever is in Government after the next general election, or the one after that… that broadly speaking we keep the same course of action in social care, the way we have with the NHS since 1948.”
The health minister’s comments come after he faced further fury today after telling pensioners to “layer up and turn on the heating”.
The statement came despite Labor’s decision to scrap winter fuel payments for nearly 10 million pensioners last year.
Kate’s outburst today came after father-of-two Derek was fighting for his life in hospital after suffering a heart attack over the 2023 festive period.
At the time, he was already one of the longest-serving Covid patients in the UK, having been diagnosed in March 2020.
Kate paid a touching tribute to her late husband at his funeral in February and, just days later, returned in her “bold” GMB.
Plans for long-term funding and welfare reform may not be delivered until 2028, the government says
PLANS for long-term funding and welfare reform in England may not be delivered until 2028, the Government says.
It comes as ministers have announced the first steps to create a National Care Service.
Health and Social Care Minister Wes Streeting will today promise to “modernize” the industry.
He is set to launch an independent commission – to be chaired by Baroness Louise Casey – on how to set up the National Care Service.
But the problems facing social care will not be reported until next year.
The second phase — with longer-term recommendations — is not expected until 2028.
Sarah Woolnough, of the King’s Fund think tank, said: “We are calling on the government to speed up the timing.”
But Mr. Streeting said: “The investment and reforms we are announcing today will help modernize social care, forge closer working relationships with the NHS and help deliver our Agenda for Change.”
The plans include increasing money for disabled people to adapt their homes – £86m this year and another £86m next year.
Nursing staff will be given better training and career choices in a bid to stop resignations.
A technological revolution will make social care “fully digitised” within five years so carers can quickly access NHS medical data.
Care Minister Stephen Kinnock said: “Baroness Casey’s commission will build cross-party consensus and is a once-in-a-generation opportunity.”
Around 818,000 people receive state-funded social care, costing £28 billion a year.
Health chiefs believe stronger care services will free up beds and reduce pressure on the NHS.
HARD TIMES
However, Kate has always been honest about the financial toll Derek’s care has taken on her family.
Kate recently revealed how she was withdrawing cash from her pension earlier to try to stop crippling bill costs.
In a previous episode of GMB, she also admitted to exploring the same financial technique to free up funds from Derek’s pension while he was still alive to keep up with the fees.
She said at the time: “As anyone with a seriously ill loved one knows, costs add up in many ways.
“You have to make changes in your home and it affects your ability to work.
“I had to take long periods off when Derek was first ill, and of course if it affects the family’s overall income because he can no longer work.
“We had to finish the work we had together and I also had to take on assistants so I could focus on Derek when I wasn’t on air.
“Derek has always been incredibly supportive of my work, but I didn’t realize how much he did in that area until he was no longer able to.”
In December, The Sun exclusively revealed how her TV company had fallen into debt.
She also closed down another business she owned with Derek – with debts of £900,000.
Hosts Good Morning Britain
Current presenters:
- Susanna Reid (Hosts Monday to Wednesday and alternating Thursdays) – 2014 to present
- Kate Garraway (presenters alternate Thursdays and Fridays) – 2014 to present
- Ed Balls (presented on a rotating basis) – 2022 to present
- Adil Ray (presents on Fridays) – 2024 to present
Former presenters:
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Kate told how two applications for care funding were ‘rejected’Credit: ITV
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Derek’s care costs are suggested to be £800,000. Credit: AFP
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Kate said she tried to use her pension early to cover the costsCredit: PA
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