20190706-bc-earthquake

Ridgecrest Regional Hospital

 The Californian, file

The federally designated critical access hospital in Ridgecrest notified Kern County authorities last week that "continued financial hardships" have forced it to let go 31 more employees just two months after it said the layoff of 29 others will require it to suspend maternity care March 1.

The cutbacks are expected to impact Ridgecrest Regional Hospital's operations in the areas of surgery, respiratory therapy, physical therapy, environmental services, lab and multiple clinics situated at the medical center's campus. Seven licensed vocational nurses and four registered nurses are among those being permanently let go in the mass layoff set to start April 8.