Kate Garraway has disclosed that the cost of caring for her late husband Derek Draper has left her with substantial debts. The Good Morning Britain presenter spoke about the financial strain in her latest documentary, Kate Garraway: Derek's Story, which airs on ITV on Tuesday evening.
Draper died in January at the age of 56 from the long-term effects of Covid-19. Garraway explained that his care costs amounted to £16,000 per month, exceeding her salary from ITV. "I am in debt," she said. "I can't earn enough money to cover my debt because I am managing Derek's care." While acknowledging her well-paid job, she stressed that it was insufficient to meet the expenses.
Garraway highlighted the failures of the care system, noting that despite multiple appeals, she was repeatedly told that Derek did not qualify for funded care. "If this is what it's like for me, what on earth is it like for everybody else?" she asked. She called for reform, warning that the system is "going to break."
The documentary includes audio of Draper saying, "I want you to hear my story... I want to be heard." It follows two previous ITV programmes documenting Garraway's caregiving journey. The presenter's experience reflects broader issues in adult social care funding, with the financial threshold for council-funded care remaining unchanged at £23,250 for over a decade. Many families face an arduous battle to secure NHS-funded care for severe disabilities or high health needs, leaving them financially and emotionally drained.
