Kate Garraway has opened up about the financial hardship she has experienced as a result of the high costs involved in caring for her husband, Derek Draper, following his months-long battle against Covid-19.
Kate outlined the severity of Derek's situation and the financial difficulties the family has faced in order to care for him.
The former political lobbyist, 55, contracted Covid-19 in March 2020, leading to him being hospitalised for 13 months.
His body was weakened as a result of his long-term hospital admission, with him now susceptible to various ailments - and he even feared he was close to death last year when he was stuck with sepsis.
Speaking to The Sun, Kate admitted that since Derek became seriously ill, things have been financially tough for the family, and that “costs have gone through the roof in so many ways”, adding that their home has needed to be adapted to suit Derek’s needs, and that her working life has been impacted as a result of her husband’s illness.
The TV presenter revealed that she has spent “tens of thousands of pounds” remodelling their home, adding a downstairs wet room and bedroom, and making the entire ground floor accessible for stretchers and wheelchairs, as Derek is unable to walk.
Kate went on to explain that she had to take time off work when Derek was first diagnosed with Covid-19 back in March 2020.
With Derek suffering from a long-term illness, he is no longer able to work, and the couple now rely on just one income.
While Kate has had to “wind up the business” the pair had together, Derek’s additional needs means she has had to take on assistants in order to keep working.
She also said Derek hasn’t received any special treatment off the back of her job.
Kate explained: “Perhaps there is the assumption that because I’m on the telly, and because people have heard so much of Derek’s story — and he has touched so many hearts — that we’ve had special treatment from the NHS or bypassed waiting lists.
“There are only so many resources, and we are still waiting on referrals from almost three years ago.”
Kate is planning to do an expose on the care system, calling it “broken” and “a mess”.
She said: “The extraordinary nature of carers, they are the absolute bedrock of our health service.
“But the challenges of the system we have now need addressing. I don’t just want to be angry about it, I want to affect change.”
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