From immunizations to inspections, you should get ready to wait as a hiring freeze is put in place.  The state Health Department will not fill or replace a number of positions statewide.

When someone complains about getting sick after eating out, sanitarians with the health department respond.  When someone complains about the treatment of their loved one in a nursing one, long term care surveyors respond.  Both will be impacted by the hiring freeze.  The state Health Department says there are 100 positions across the state that will not be filled.  You can also expect a longer wait when you go to the county health department because 69 nursing positions across the state will not be filled.  Those nurses handle public health programs from immunization, nutrition programs and sexually transmitted diseases.  The Health Department's overall budget is about 380 million dollars which is essentially the same as last year and department officials say the cost of doing business is rising.