HILO, Hawaii – Hilo Medical Center long time nurse and current quality director Tandy Newsome called out lawmakers in attendance during a public meeting at the hospital on Wednesday. Health officials hosted the gathering to solicit input into planned service cutbacks and layoffs as the East Hawaii Region of Hawaii Health Systems Corporation tries to meet a $7 million fiscal shortfall.

“This is the government’s role,” Newsome said, “to help us fund the essential services that we have here, and not cut any.”

Lawmakers did approve $117 million this legislative session for the state-wide Hawaii Health Systems Corp., however it was apparently not enough.