on the ropes
Kate Garraway says she can’t pay ‘excessive debt’ for late husband’s care as she grills Health Sec over Labour plans
Watch the moment she quizzes Wes Streeting over the government's social care plans in the video player
KATE Garraway has revealed she is unable to pay the "excessive debt" for her late husband's care as she slammed Wes Streeting today.
The ITV presenter, 57, challenged the Health Secretary after Labour today said social care reforms may not be delivered until 2028.
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Furious Kate said she is struggling to settle the huge sums following the death of former political lobbyist Derek Draper aged 56 in January last year.
His death came after a four years of health struggles.
During his final months, Kate said she struggled to keep her "head above water" - having racked up huge debts paying for his care.
But plans for the long-term funding and reform of social care in England may now not be delivered until 2028.
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Following the announcement, the ITV presenter launched a blistering attack during a live interview with Mr Streeting this morning.
As she introduced their chat, Kate - who has become a staunch campaigner for unpaid carers - referenced her experience with Derek.
The anchor - whose care bill for her late spouse amounted to £800K - said: "I'm thinking about Derek. It happens to be the one year anniversary of his death today.
"A day that is only relevant to me."
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Kate then explained how two separate appeals for funding to pay for Derek's care costs kept getting "pushed back".
She also told of how her family had "not heard" the outcome when he went into Intensive Care prior to his death.
Kate continued: "In the meantime I am lucky, I've got an incredible job which pays well, but I was having to fund the situation.
Good Morning Britain's Kate Garraway addresses 'backlash' over Derek Draper documentary
"Now I've got excessive, unpayable debt because of it.
"And if I am in that position, what else are people going to be? People cant afford four more years of this."
Wes replied by expressing his sadness and said "all of us are with you" as she "goes through" the emotional one-year anniversary of Derek's death.
Speaking from Carlisle, Cumbria, he added: "I think one of the reasons we have ended into short term cycle of failure is whenever we talk about social care, there are always costs involved.
GMB's Kate Garraway and social care reform
KATE Garraway locked horns with Health Minister Wes Streeting in a debate over social care reform on GMB. Yet what is it? And when will it happen?
Kate Garraway - who tragically lost husband Derek Draper in January 2024 - has become a staunch advocate for social care reform and the plight of unpaid carers.
Yet as Health Secretary Wes Streeting appeared on ITV daytime show GMB on January 3, 2025 - the one-year anniversary of the death of her spouse - it was revealed the crucial plans may not be delivered until 2028.
It came after ministers announced the first steps to creating a National Care Service.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting will today vow to “modernise” 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 she will not report back until next year on issues facing social care.
A second phase — with recommendations for the longer term — is not expected until 2028.
Experts have now urged the government to accelerate the process.
Kate herself said the country cannot wait "another four years" for it to happen.
"And that makes people want to run to the hills and stick their heads in the sand in politics, cause sometimes those numbers can be scary.
"One of the reasons I genuinely think that even with the size of the majority we have got, it is a good thing to try to build cross party consensus.
"I want to come up with a plan that means whoever's in Government after the next General Election, or the one after that... that broadly speaking we keep the same direction of travel on social care, in the way that we have with the NHS since 1948."
The Health Secretary's comments come as he faced further fury today after telling pensioners to “layer up and put the heating on”.
The statement came despite Labour's decision to axe winter fuel payments for nearly 10 million pensioners last year.
Kate's fury today came after dad-of-two Derek was left fighting for his life in hospital after suffering a heart attack over the festive period in 2023.
At the time, he was already one of the UK's longest-suffering Covid patients, after being diagnosed in March 2020.
Kate paid a touching tribute to her late spouse at his funeral in February and, just days later, made her "brave" GMB return.
Plans for long-term funding and reform of social care may not be delivered until 2028, says govt
PLANS for the long-term funding and reform of social care in England may not be delivered until 2028, the Government says.
It comes as ministers announced the first steps to creating a National Care Service.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting will today vow to “modernise” 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 she will not report back until next year on issues facing social care.
A second phase — with recommendations for the longer term — is not expected until 2028.
Sarah Woolnough, of the King’s Fund think-tank, said: “We urge the Government to accelerate the timing.”
But Mr Streeting said: “The investment and reforms we’re announcing today will help to modernise social care, get it working more closely with the NHS, and help deliver our Plan for Change.”
The plans include a cash boost for disabled people to adapt their homes — £86million this year and another £86million next year.
Care workers will get better training and career choices in a bid to stem resignations.
A tech revolution will make social care “fully digitised” within five years so carers can get NHS medical info swiftly.
Care minister Stephen Kinnock said: “Baroness Casey’s commission will build cross-party consensus and is a once in a generation opportunity.”
About 818,000 people receive government-funded social care, costing £28billion a year.
Health chiefs believe stronger care services will free up beds and take pressure off the NHS.
TOUGH TIMES
Yet Kate has always been candid on the financial toll Derek's care has taken on her family.
Kate recently told how she was withdrawing cash from her pension early to try to stem the crippling cost of the bills.
On a previous GMB episode, she also admitted she had looked into the same finance technique to release funds from Derek's pension when he was still alive, in order to keep up with the fees.
At the time, she said: “As anyone with a loved one who is seriously ill knows, the costs go through the roof in so many ways.
“You have to make changes to your home and it affects your ability to work.
“I had to take long periods off when Derek was first sick, and of course if affects the overall income for the family as he can no longer work.
“We had to wind up the business we had together, and also I’ve had to take on assistants so that I can focus on Derek when not on air.
“Derek was always so incredibly supportive of my work, but I didn’t realise just how much he did do in that area until he couldn’t anymore."
READ MORE SUN STORIES
In December, The Sun exclusively revealed how her TV company had plunged into debt.
She also shut down another company she owned with Derek - with £900K debts.
Good Morning Britain presenters
Current presenters:
- Susanna Reid (presenters Monday to Wednesday and alternate Thursdays) - 2014 to present
- Kate Garraway (presenters alternate Thursdays and Fridays) - 2014 to present
- Martin Lewis (Money Saving Expert) - 2021 to present
- Richard Madeley (presents Monday to Thursday) - 2022 to present
- Ed Balls (presents on a rotating basis) - 2022 to present
- Adil Ray (presents on Fridays) - 2024 to present
- Robert Rinder (presents on a rotating basis) - 2024 to present
- Charlotte Hawkins (stand in and holiday cover presenter) 2014 to present
Former presenters:
- Ben Shephard (Thursdays and Fridays) - 2014 to 2024
- Sean Fletcher (Monday–Friday) - 2014
- John Stapleton (Wednesday) - 2014
- Piers Morgan (Monday to Wednesday) - 2015 to 2021
- Lorraine Kelly (Monday to Friday) - 2022
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