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It's the last thing many workers at Brookdale Hospital wanted to hear Monday -- 240 positions are being eliminated.

"I'm scared, I'm very scared," said one registered nurse.

Employees who are being let go say they were brought into meetings Monday morning and handed letters telling them the bad news.

"Maybe they should have sent it in the mail and let me stay home instead of turning up this morning, 20 and I'm out the door. So, it could of been handled better," said Kathy Rodney, a hospital worker.

The 530 bed hospital blames the workforce reduction on a budget deficit caused by inadequate insurance reimbursements and a larger number of uninsured patients.

In a statement, the hospital said, "recent changes in patient care volume require us to restructure our workforce accordingly. The Medical Center regrets the impact of this restructuring on its affected employees."

That doesn't make people who lost their job feel any better. Some gathered in front of the hospital with community leaders and elected officials to denounce the cuts.

"People with 20 plus years have given their time in this community and this is what they get rewarded with? This is nuts, it's absurd," said Anthony Herbert, a community activist.

"Bail out Brookdale, bail out our hospital," said City Councilman Charles Barron.

Meanwhile, laid off workers are trying to keep a positive attitude.

"It's just been a little shocker, you know you are always hearing about layoffs and you're just hoping that you're not the one. I'm a little sad but God is good and he'll provide," said Rodney.

The New York State Department of Health said it will keep tabs on the situation to make sure that people in the neighborhood have sufficient access to care.

Added complaints about the quality of health care can be made to the department's hospital complaints hotline at 1-800-804-5447.