Colleagues with more than 200 years' NHS service between them received certificates at a Long Service ceremony at CRH yesterday teatime.

Chairman Andrew Haigh and  Director of Nursing Brendan Brown made the presentations.

Brendan, said: " We always need to say thank-you  and don't say it often enough. Without you we couldn't deliver the care we do for our patients so, again, thank you to you all."

Andrew said through their work over the years they would have touched the lives of thousand of patients and their families.

 Midwife, Jolan, attending with husband Steven, said her quickest birth was under 60 seconds.  " It was one born in a minute - rather than one born every minute! 

She added: "I always feel we are a happy unit and support each other and medical staff like working here too. It's a privilege to be part of people's lives!"

A&E consultant  and director of Medical Education, Andy Lockey, said his 25 years had "flown by" and added smiles made the biggest difference.

"A good team is made of people who pull together through very difficult times... and still have smiles of their faces after it all."