Staff, patients scramble at Oakland, CA, hospital after sudden layoffs

In a swirl of confusion following the abrupt termination of scores of employees with Children's Hospital Oakland, some children's surgeries were canceled then uncanceled, medical appointments were called off, and clinical staff worried about the future of their patients. County officials also blasted the hospital for the sudden announcement of the layoffs and the planned retooling of outpatient services designed to save $10 million a year at the facility.