Advice columnist and author Claire Rayner died Monday night (October 11) in her home in Harrow, London. Rayner did not recover from an emergency intestinal surgery. She was 79-years old.

Claire Rayner, a nurse and a journalist, was named medical journalist of the year in 1987. In 1996, Rayner was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for "services to women's issues and health issues."

Even at her death bed, Rayner gave her last breath to voice out her life-long commitment to health issues in the United Kingdom.

Rayner told her husband Des Rayner, and relatives that: "Tell David Cameron that if he screws up my beloved [National Health Service] I'll come back and bloody haunt him."

Today, Sir Nick Partridge, Terrence Higgins Trust Chief Executive, paid tribute to Rayner, one of the foundation's patrons since 1984. In a stament posted in the Terrence Higgins Trust website, Sir Patridge said:

"We're greatly saddened to learn of the death of our patron Claire Rayner. Claire was one of the first people to recognise just how serious the impact of HIV and AIDS would be, from the early eighties, and she worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the condition, and sexual health issues as a whole, to help people lead healthier and more fulfilling sex lives.

"Claire had an irrepressible enthusiasm for life. She was a pioneer in encouraging people to talk openly about sex, sexuality and sexual health when there was little knowledge about these subjects. She had a strong awareness of the difficult issues facing people diagnosed with AIDS and HIV, particularly stigma and discrimination, which she fought valiantly in the work that she did both as a nurse and in the media.

"We have been immensely fortunate to have Claire's backing and involvement from Terrence Higgins Trust's very early days. She was always willing to help; offering support and advice, acting as a spokesperson and attending our fundraising events and health programme launches, alongside her husband Des. We're incredibly proud of Claire and all the fantastic work that she did for us, and people affected by HIV, as well as the huge difference she made to sexual health as a whole. Our thoughts are with Des and the family."

For more information on the life and works of Claire Rayner, visit the Wikipedia entry for her.