Kate Garraway visibly turned away from Health Secretary Wes Streeting during a heated interview on ITV's Good Morning Britain, as the discussion over healthcare worker pay and care funding became personal. The presenter, who lost her husband Derek Draper to Covid-19 complications in January 2024, questioned Streeting on whether £12 an hour is a living wage for healthcare workers, pushing for an increase to £15.
Streeting deflected the question, stating that raising wages is not straightforward and that the government has only been in power for six months. 'Give us a chance,' he said, prompting Garraway to physically turn her chair and body away from the camera in apparent frustration.
The exchange occurred on the first anniversary of Derek Draper's death. Garraway revealed that her family had been dealing with the challenges of funding care, noting that two appeals for funding had not been heard before his death. 'I was having to fund the situation,' she said, adding that she now has 'excessive unpayable debt' as a result.
Garraway, who has two children with Draper, described the financial strain despite her well-paid job, questioning how others in similar situations could cope. The interview highlighted ongoing concerns about care funding and low pay for healthcare workers in the UK.
