Kate Garraway opened up about her “dilemma” with securing “private medicine” for her husband Derek Draper as talks turn to lengthy NHS wait lists.
The 54-year-old TV star had been discussing with Dr Amir Khan and guest Sharon the worsening situation with NHS delays on Friday’s episode of Good Morning Britain (March 4).
Sharon appeared on the programme to explain that her care had became so urgent and painful that she had decided to fund her own surgery privately.
The GMB guest went onto add that she had faced a nine month wait to fix her trapped nerve in her back which left her in “excruciating pain” and needing to sleep sitting up.
Unable to suffer any longer, Sharon and her husband decided to take out a £7,000 loan so that they could pay for her surgery privately.
(Image: ITV)
Kate sympathised with Sharon, explaining that she too had difficult conversations with the NHS when it came to Derek’s private medicine.
She explained: “A dilemma of accessing private medicine or continuing to wait for the NHS, I don’t know what you’ve been through but it’s a conversation I’ve been having over treatment for Derek.
“It’s such a tough one because if you don’t have that money then what do you do at that point but on the other hand there is no price on being out of pain and back in health is there?”
Dr Amir Khan also weighed in on the situation with long waiting lists, staff shortages and the NHS being underfunded to cope with the backlog from Covid-19.
He added: “Can I just say surgical hubs are great as long as you have the staff.”
Fans praised the TV doctor for speaking honestly about the situation which is currently toying with peoples lives.
One tweet read: “Well done Amir for speaking the truth – the NHS was in a big mess long before Covid!#GMB.”
Another person hailed: “#gmb @DrAmirKhanGP Thank you so much for raising the issue of NHS underfunding. Many people will be forced into debt.”
Meanwhile, Kate’s husband Derek is still recovering after suffering one of the worst bouts of Covid-19 any medical expert had ever seen.
The former Labour aid’s condition was touch and go at one point – with doctors needing to put him in a medically induce coma.
After being in hospital for over a year, he was finally reunited with his family in April last year.
While he is now with loved ones, his recovery is still a very uphill battle.
GMB continues weekdays from 6am on ITV.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
