48 people who work at McLeod's Loris Hospital and Seacoast Medical Center lost their jobs.

A spokesperson for the hospital says the layoffs are partly due to cuts in federal and state funding of more than $2.5 million.

The hospital also says a drop in patients because of the economic downturn has made it more difficult for the facilities to pay down a loan from the federal government.

Last month, the two hospitals became affiliated with McLeod Health.