Dr Veronica Moss
Veronica's long history with Mildmay began in 1986 when Helen Taylor-Thompson invited her to join the Steering Committee fighting for the hospital's reopening after its closure by the NHS in 1982. Before that, she was working as a GP. “At the time, I had no idea that this east London hospital would end up with such a large international presence. But I had this strong sense of calling.”
Following the successful campaign, Veronica was invited to apply for the role of Medical Director at the newly re-established Mildmay, now an independent voluntary Hospital with objectives and values underpinned by the Christian faith.
Taking the helm, she collaborated with Helen Taylor-Thompson, who served as Chair of the Board of Governors, and Dr Ruth Sims to develop Europe's first Hospice Programme specifically catering to AIDS patients. The programme's first ward opened its doors in 1988.
The first few years were a difficult time for Mildmay. “We received opposition from all quarters. People hurled stones and bottles at our windows and the patients as well and gave us constant verbal abuse. There was a great deal of ignorance about the illness and how you got it.”
By 1991, Mildmay was fully dedicated to AIDS care and soon began to develop work with families and children with AIDS. Increasing numbers of patients were of African origin, and a staff group, including Veronica, raised money to travel to Uganda, Kenya and Zimbabwe to better understand their cultures and learn how to care for them more effectively in England. They made many friends during their two-month tour and were invited back to teach and train about how to care for people living with HIV and AIDS. In 1993, Mildmay received an invitation from the government of Uganda to open a specialist treatment and training centre there.
Princess Anne opened the Mildmay Centre for AIDS Treatment and Care in Uganda in 1998, and in 2007, HM Queen Elizabeth II visited the Mildmay Centre and its sister project, the Mildmay Paediatric Care Centre. By then, approximately 5,000 patients attended the Mildmay clinics regularly, and nearly 14,000 children were supported through their programmes. Both centres were established as models of good practice, demonstrating and teaching doctors, nurses and health workers about how to provide good quality holistic care in resource-limited settings.
Under Veronica’s guidance, Mildmay went on to develop programmes in several other countries including Tanzania and Kenya, then Zimbabwe and Rwanda and later into Eastern Europe. Much of its work focused on teaching and training health workers at all levels, including doctors and nurses, in all aspects of HIV and AIDS treatment and care. For example, in Ukraine, Mildmay worked with Ukrainian government AIDS centres to train their staff in AIDS palliative and rehabilitative care.
Veronica retired from Mildmay after 22 years of service in September 2008 but continued to teach, train, and speak about the many issues raised by the HIV epidemic and how it affected the lives of individuals and communities.
Dr Veronica Moss passed away after a long illness in Southend, Essex, on Thursday 18 July 2024.
The above is an extract from Dr Veronica Moss's obituary
"I first met Helen Taylor Thompson when she invited me to join the Steering Committee she chaired that led the petition and campaign to re-open the Mildmay Mission Hospital after its closure by the NHS in 1982.
In 1985 she invited me to apply for the position of Medical Director of the newly re-opened Mildmay as an independent Christian Hospital , which I did. I was appointed and served with Helen as the Chair of the Board of Governors as we developed Europe’s first Hospice Programme for AIDS patients together with Ruth Sims and a team we recruited especially for this.
The first ward was opened for people with AIDS in 1988. Helen was an inspirational, supportive, and strong leader, with clear entrepreneurial skills, but it was her faith in God that was the most impressive. Thank you, Helen, for your courage, love and support for so many suffering people, not only at Mildmay but also in the many other ventures you led or contributed to."
Reproduced from Helen Taylor Thompson's Book of Condolence
