Kate Garraway spoke passionately about NHS staff 'keeping Derek alive' on Good Morning Britain.
The ITV presenter and co-host Richard Madeley were fronting Thursday's edition of the show as they discussed the latest NHS pay row.
It was announced on Wednesday that nurses, paramedics, consultants, and dentists are among the workers to be awarded a three percent pay rise.
The latest move came after the government came under fire for recommending a 1% pay rise despite the incredible pressure NHS staff have been under because of the pandemic.
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They said in March that it could only afford a 1% increase despite the extraordinary efforts of NHS staff to deal with the pandemic.
There was also additional anger as the pay rise was due in April, and the NHS Pay Review Body (PRB) made its recommendation almost a month ago.
On GMB this morning, Kate and Richard spoke to Royal College of Nursing Interim General Secretary Pat Cullen.
During the conversation, Kate was eager to express her gratitude and give praise for NHS workers as Pat spoke about what she thinks nurses deserve.
But she also spoke of her understanding of the government having to balance the decision.
Kate said: "That makes all the difference and knowing when to call in the big consultant and work on it. I can't say enough: they do deserve more.
"But it is also a difficult decision for the government to work out how to balance and go forward and deal with the tax rises we may all have to face, you know?"
Richard said in response: "I think you... I think you do incredibly well keeping your journalist's hat on in a situation you are so incredibly immersed in on a personal level.
"But you are able to take a step back from it and ask straight, journalistic questions. I take my hat off to you."
Kate replied: "Nobody could be more desperate for nurses to be rewarded than me.
"Nurses, I think, saved Derek’s life and are still very involved in keeping him alive because it was the nurses’s care as well as the brilliant doctors, but that care during those critical days and months made all the difference.
"But the problem is that originally it was 2%, then it was moved to 1%, then it moved to an independent review that’s decided 3% and we’re in two trillion pounds worth of debt, there are people in the private sector who are working incredibly hard, maybe in less emotive roles, but incredibly hard, who are losing their jobs."
Kate added: "The economy is under such extraordinary strain.
"There’s other areas of the public sector like police, like teachers, who’ve also been feeling a huge amount of pressure, who’ve got no pay rise, so 12% I think you won’t get so there has to be some form of compromise."
Kate has spoken openly over the last 16 months about her husband Derek Draper's coronavirus battle.
The former Labour lobbyist was struck down by the virus last March and after being admitted to hospital, was placed in an induced coma.
He then spent more than a year in hospital after suffering devastating effects as a result of Covid.
Derek finally returned home in April this year where he is receiving around-the-clock care.
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