Ranvir Singh is hoping Kate Garraway's husband Derek Draper's return home will provide a "magic" boost to his recovery.
Kate Garraway
The 53-year-old former lobbyist has been in hospital for more than a year battling coronavirus and the after-effects, but he is now back at home with the 'Good Morning Britain' presenter, and her co-host is hoping Derek being back in their London house will "have an enormous effect" on his recovery.
Speaking on today's (09.04.21) 'GMB', Ranvir said: "Anybody who is in a vulnerable state and you haven't been able to see them to give them your personal love, your personal attention, for them to hear your voice, haven't been able to touch them, will know.
"For somebody in recovery, not just survival mode, in actual recovery, which is where Derek has been for these last few months rather than just trying to stay alive ... actually not having that contact with Kate, I think everyone in the medical field and around him could see that that was having an effect on him.
"Medicine is one thing, but the psychology, the mind ... there is a magic in the family that you can't replicate in a medical setting, no matter how much you can try.
"It's about that contact, hearing your children. That can have an enormous effect on somebody's recovery."
One of GMB's resident doctors, Dr Amir Khan, replied: "It really can, that psychological effect, as you say.
"There are signs behind that, when your family members come and see you and there is touch involved there are all sorts of chemical neurotransmitters that are produced in the brain that make you feel better as well.
"It'll be nice for him to have that finally, and good for Kate as well."
Dr Khan also admitted that while Derek's return home is a "step in the right direction", it will be "a lot of work for the family".
When asked about the transition from full-time hospital care to the home environment, he said: "It's scary for the patient and for the family as well. It's a lot for the family to cope with.
"There will be people coming in and out of the home to help Kate with Derek.
"I don't think we should underestimate how difficult this is going to be for the two of them, even though it's a step in the right direction.
"As positive as this is, and it really is positive, it is a lot of work for the family."
Derek will receive 24-hour care at the couple's home.
A friend of the family told The Sun newspaper: "Kate’s dreamt of this day for so long, and can’t thank wonderful NHS staff enough.
"The children, who have been so remarkably resilient, have been so, so happy to have their dad home.
"There have been a lot of happy tears from everyone.
"This past year has given Derek and Kate an absolutely unbreakable bond - she has been such a rock, and a total inspiration to everyone in Britain battling their own horror stories with the pernicious disease."
Derek was admitted to hospital in March last year after falling ill with coronavirus and was placed in an induced coma where he remained for months after fighting off the virus.
Kate - who has daughter Darcey, 15, and son Billy, 11, with Derek - has since told fans that COVID-19 has ravaged his body, but she always remained hopeful he would be able to return home.
Tagged in Kate Garraway