GOOD Morning Britain anchor Kate Garraway was left fighting back tears as she opened up on caring for sick husband Derek Draper to the Government’s Health Secretary.
The ITV anchor, 56, admitted she was “trying not to cry” in the emotional segment during which she told Steve Barclay, 51, she had been trying to contact his office for weeks to no avail.
Good Morning Britain’s Kate Garraway was left fighting back tears on Thursday’s showCredit: ITV
Her emotion came as she spoke of her role as a carer for sick husband Derek DraperCredit: Instagram / ITV
Mum of two Kate told how she ‘didn’t want to cry’ in the segmentCredit: ITV
Good Morning Britain hosts Susanna Reid, 52, and Ben Shephard, 48, had led the discussion initially, yet Ben swiftly passed on to Kate who he said was “more experienced” on the subject of carers.
The mum-of-two’s husband Derek, 56, was left fighting for his life after suffering Covid
Ex political lobbyist Derek is one of the UK’s longest suffering patients of Covid, yet has since been battling a variety of health problems, after the virus caused brain inflammation, kidney failure, and damage to his liver and pancreas.
Kate told how she wanted to discuss the issue of “health care and social care and the way they are interrelating.”
Yet she admitted she was “trying not to cry” as she said: “This is not about Derek by the way or trying to get something for him.
“It’s about representing millions of people across the country who like me on one hand feel they are holding the lives of their loved ones.
“And in the other hand,” before breaking off stating: “I don’t want to cry.”
She bravely continued: “In the other hand are just punching and punching away at a system and it isn’t about money actually …”
Kate had tears in her eyes as she told the North East Cambridgeshire MP she had “five points” she would like to make to him off-camera.
She said: “I would love to meet with you if you would return some of his attempts to contact you.”
The Health Secretary told Kate he had not been made aware of her attempts to contact him, and agreed to a meeting.
He had appeared on the show to discuss the issue of the 165,000 social care vacancies in the UK.
Meanwhile, Kate’s co-host Susanna was quick to understandably dissuade any negativity around Kate securing the meeting.
She said: “To anyone who is shouting at the screen saying ‘how come Kate gets special treatment?’
“The point is you [Kate] are able to do this in order to reflect the voices of those who cannot get heard.”
Kate vowed to “take people with her” as she attended the meeting.
Recently, Kate was emotional on the show as she revealed how Derek had become stuck in airport security in a horror moment.
The Good Morning Britain favourite was talking about disabled access and facilities at London Heathrow Airport.
She told co-host Richard Madeley and Manchester Arena bomb survivor Martin Hibbert, who was present for the debate, how the transport hub had recently installed a passport scanner that was wheelchair-wide.
Kate said: “Disability has a wide-range – Derek hasn’t got the cognitive skills or upper-body strength that you’ve got.
“We realised we couldn’t get him into the country.
“He went forward [in the machine] and the door locked and then the disabled person has to free it.
“You’re not allowed because of the border to do it yourself.”
Derek struggled to push the door and couldn’t get out, and Kate added: “He was stuck in no man’s land and literally between two borders for about an hour or so.
“That’s even when conscious effort has been made to make things work.”
Kate told how she had ‘five points’ to make to the Government ministerCredit: ITV
Former political lobbyist Derek was left fighting for his life after contracting CovidCredit: Getty – Contributor
He has since been battling a variety of health problems, after the virus caused brain inflammation, kidney failure, and damage to his liver and pancreasCredit: Rex
