The Duchess of Norfolk praised the commitment of NHS staff as she presented long service and academic achievement awards to staff from Adur, Arun and Worthing Primary Care Trust.
Between them the health staff had clocked up 420 years work for the NHS.
The duchess praised the workers for all their care and hard work.
Director of human resources Philippa Spicer said: "These members of staff have made an enormous contribution to the excellent services that are now in place for local people.
"Many of them are directly responsible for making improvements to services and for changing things for the better - it is this type of commitment that we are recognising."
The two longest-serving members of staff recognised were administrator Kathleen Harrison and housekeeper Daphne Pearce, who had each spent 34 years working in the NHS.
Kathleen, who works at Littlehampton Community Hospital, said: "The best aspect of my job is the contact with patients.
"Seeing that your work is helping in some small way to make it all happen gives you a sense of satisfaction. It makes it all worthwhile."
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