Kate Garraway claims she's £800k in debt as she takes aim at funding struggles for husband Derek Draper

Kate Garraway claims she's £800k in debt as she takes aim at funding struggles for husband Derek Draper

WATCH HERE: Peter Andre reflects on his relationship with Kate Garraway after death of Derek Draper

GB NEWS
Alex Davies

By Alex Davies


Published: 25/03/2024

- 08:41

The TV presenter's husband died in January almost four years after contracting Covid

Kate Garraway has claimed she faces debts of up to £800,000 for the care carried out for her late husband, Derek Draper.

The former political lobbyist died at the age of 56 following years of health complications sparked by contracting Covid in March 2020.


Draper needed round-the-clock care and faced numerous health woes before his death, including a sepsis battle and being in a coma for just under 100 days.

Garraway and her two teenage children spent much of their time caring for him but the presenter still needed expert care for her husband.

Draper "couldn't be left alone" Garraway recently opened up, stating that if he were "he would be lying in his own faeces and urine".

However, Garraway faced obstacle after obstacle when it came to getting the relevant care for her husband with temporary funding offered and revoked time and time again.

Kate Garraway and Derek Draper

Derek draper (right) died in January 2024

GETTY

According to a new interview with the Times, Garraway was given as little as four hours notice in one instance that Draper's care was to be terminated.

She took aim at the system while speaking with the publication, saying: "It’s supposed to be a system that’s meant to catch you if you fall, but actually, it feels like it’s trying to catch you out.

"You feel like you’re in the dock answering questions about things that will literally mean life or death to someone you love.

"Derek’s needs were clearly so great, yet he didn’t warrant funded care — so you think, 'If he isn’t getting it, then who is?'"

WATCH HERE: Kate Garraway makes TV return for first time since Derek Draper's death

As a result of Draper's psychotherapeutic company’s failure, while he was ill, the Garraway family faced debts of £700,000.

Then there was his rehabilitative therapies and other care-giving needs which Garraway estimates to have racked up a debt in the region of £500,000-£800,000.

However, at the time of writing, Garraway has claimed "no one’s contacted me since he’s passed away to ask for that".

But Garraway knows the call may come in for the money, which she hasn't addressed just yet as she feels she's still in "survival mode".

Kate Garraway

Kate Garraway is facing mounting debts after her husband's death

GETTY

Garraway has returned to work on ITV's Good Morning Britain as she continues to grieve her late husband.

And she'll also release a new documentary detailing Draper's health battles in the months before his death.

This will be the third documentary she'll have made for ITV documenting her husband's battle.

"I don’t know what flak I’ll get," she said as she addressed the backlash she has received for launching the docs. "A couple of people [on social media] have said, 'Oh, why is she doing that now?'

"But it’s because it was already there... I think I’ve got to because Derek wanted it. So it’s for him; it’s his legacy, if you like."

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