14 September 2023 , 08:43
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Kate Garraway was seen struggling to fight tears during a furious clash with the Health Secretary over social care.
The Good Morning Britain star quizzed Steve Barclay, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, about social care in the UK amid her own experiences with her husband Derek Draper – who requires round the clock care due to complications from Covid-19. She explained to the Tory MP she had been trying to contact both him and Helen Whately, the Minister of State for Social Care, but to no avail so far. Kate has a book out today about Derek called Strength of Love, which details his battle with his health.
Kate explained she was caught between "holding the life of her loved one" in one hand and then trying to fight the system of social care in the other. She admitted she was trying not to cry as she explained how tough it has been.
Speaking on the show today, hosts Ben Shephard and Susanna Reid handed over to Kate, who said: "I don't want to ambush you on air, but I have been trying to contact you and I have been trying to contact Helen Whately as well and I haven't been able to. I have been able to contact your equivalents on the shadow side and spoken to them.
Kate spoke with Steve Barclay live on air today (ITV)"I'd like to come and talk to you – not about Derek by the way, this is not trying to get something for him. This is about representing millions of people across the country who, like me every day, in one hand feel like they are holding the life of their loved one and in the other hand – I don't want to cry – are just punching and punching the system."
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She added: "It isn't about money. I've got five points, if you or Helen would return some of my attempts to contact with you to talk to you about it because it's not just about social care but health care too. It would be wonderful if you could."
Steve Barclay claimed he had not yet heard of Kate's wish for a meeting, but vowed to discuss things with her off air.
Kate cares for her husband Derek (ITV)"Well, first Kate, it's the first time I've heard of you trying to contact me so that message hadn't got through to me so I can confirm I would be very happy to meet. We can pick that up after this interview," he began.
"Of course, we'd be keen to work with you and more widely, look at ways we can give families much more of a voice within the NHS. I want to give the patient a voice and it would be important for us to meet. I know people have direct experience and we can learn from the experiences families are having, how we can bring services together."
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