Kate Garraway revealed her husband Derek Draper fell out of his wheelchair after trying to take him home from hospital in a taxi.
The 55-year-old presenter had to wait five hours for an ambulance after being released from hospital and revealed she tried to speed things up by taking her husband home herself as he died long after contracting the virus incurred. 2020 still fighting against Covid.
Kate’s revelation came as she and co-host Ben Shephard discussed the long waits many patients faced when calling an ambulance, with many booking taxis instead despite being advised not to do not
‘Touching moment’: Kate Garraway revealed her husband Derek Draper fell out of his wheelchair due to health issues that have kept him ill since 2020 with a long covid
During her Friday morning speech, Kate delved into the possibility of sending taxis to 999 calls.
GP Anita Rajaj, who works in Birmingham, argued that people should not be encouraged to get into the back seat of a taxi, but that emergency services should be in a good position to handle the number of calls.
Kate said: “I understand Dr. Anita and I think we would all appreciate what you say, but what would you advise as a GP – someone is waiting, scared, it’s cardiac arrest, not bad enough or management. What will you advise?’
She added: “You both addressed the increasing pressure on individuals to make medical decisions.
Loved ones: After waiting five hours for an ambulance after being released from hospital, the presenter revealed she was trying to speed things up by taking her husband home
“I’ve used a lot of taxis for Derek and for hospital appointments because mobility services are very, very late. And ambulances are late.
“But if you try to book a company car, you can sometimes wait five hours for them to take you home from the hospital.
“He was in a lot of pain, it was unbearable – then we took a taxi home from the hospital and went over a speed bump and he slipped out of the wheelchair.”
Co-host Ben Shephard asked: “[Is it] something you never thought possible?’
Kate replied, “Well, it’s hard, isn’t it?” It’s hard to deal with. You would like someone to be with you to arrange this.
Discussion: Kate’s revelation came as she and co-host Ben Shephard discussed the long waits many patients face when calling an ambulance, with many booking a taxi instead despite being advised to not
Think: During a speech on Friday morning, Kate explored the possibility of sending taxis to 999 calls
“I was really lucky because the taxi driver was a black taxi driver with mobility access – his father who he was looking after after he had a stroke.
“So he was very good at dealing with someone with this condition. We both dragged him back into the wheelchair, strapped him in and took him home.
“But I was like, ‘Gee,’ because taxi drivers often say, ‘I don’t want to deal with this.’
“I’m not even sure I should be able to handle it!”
When asked if she felt she should have waited for emergency care, Kate said: “Well, I don’t know because he was in such distress and pain.”
“I think as an individual you have to make calls all the time that you know you’re not qualified to do and it’s very difficult.”
Open: Kate explained that she used “a lot of taxis” to get Derek to and from the hospital – adding that “sometimes there can be a five-hour wait for them to take you home from the hospital”.
Kate did not specify when the incident occurred. MailOnline has reached out to his representatives for comment.
Earlier this week, Kate clashed with Labor frontbencher Emily Thornberry over her husband Derek Draper’s treatment at a private hospital during his tense battle with coronavirus.
She challenged the Shadow Attorney General over Sir Keir Starmer’s radical plan to tackle the massive backlog by outsourcing to private hospitals.
When asked if the policy amounted to privatisation, Ms Thornberry replied emphatically: ‘It is not.
“If you are waiting six months for your hip replacement and there are not enough beds in a National Health Service hospital and few beds in a private hospital, we are saying that the NHS will make up for excess capacity in the private hospital. Hospitals to shorten the waiting list. It’s just completely pragmatic politics.’
Kate Garraway clashed with Labor frontbencher Emily Thornberry today over her husband Derek Draper’s treatment at a private hospital during his tense battle with coronavirus
In response, Ms Garraway said: “I know from personal experience because when Derek was first ill and had to be taken to hospital, there was no place on any ward where he could get the treatment he needed. So basically everything was nationalized back then.
“But after a while the private hospitals said they couldn’t afford it and then it was over, it came back. And so it seemed like a sensible way to go.”
Last month, an emotional Kate broke down as she opened up about husband Derek’s health problems.
The Good Morning presenter admitted her worry has “no end” and that her new way of life can be “tiring” for those around her.
The Good Morning Britain presenter challenged the Shadow Attorney General over Sir Keir Starmer’s radical plan to tackle the massive backlog by outsourcing to private hospitals
Derek is one of the UK’s longest-suffering Covid patients, having been hospitalized with the virus in March 2020 and only returning to the family home in London in April 2021, where he receives 24-hour care receive.
She told host Lorraine Kelly: “The thing is, when it’s a long battle, like Derek, there’s no end and it can be exhausting for the people around me too.” I know, sometimes people say, “Oh, she’s talking about it. again,” but what I’ve learned is that you don’t really know what it feels like until you’re there.
“And now I’m contacted by thousands and thousands of people, which makes me feel less alone.”
Discussing Derek’s current health status after being rushed to hospital with sepsis, she said: “It’s been a long battle. I can say he has better days, he has worse days. Fortunately, he is now at home. It was a long battle to bring him back home.”
Derek is one of the UK’s longest-suffering Covid patients, having been hospitalized with the virus in March 2020 and only returning to the family home in London in April 2021, where he receives 24-hour care .
Source: Daily Mail
Ashley Root is an author and celebrity journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a keen eye for all things celebrity, Ashley is always up-to-date on the latest gossip and trends in the world of entertainment.
