Health staff who between them have clocked up 420 years work for the NHS in West Sussex have been honoured with awards.

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.

The Duchess said that as a potential patient she was grateful 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."

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 gives you a sense of satisfaction. It makes it all worthwhile."

Other long service awards went to health visitors Mary Thomas and Jennifer Jinks, podiatrist Gill Mayerl, district nurses Patricia St Claire, Christopher Spurgeon, Min Oakton, and Carol Hallinan, senior nurse manager Pauline Wood, school nurses June Lucas and Jennifer Mars, night sister Vishwani Evershed, the trust's director of community services Rosemary Diggins and the trust's head of nursing and education Anne Wells.